§ 13. Mr. Costainasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what has been the increase in the number of new telephones installed in the United Kingdom between 31st December, 1970, and 31st March, 1971.
§ Mr. ChatawayI understand that in the period the Post Office supplied 277,295 new exchange connections.
§ Mr. CostainIs the Minister aware that the delays in installing new telephones are very serious and that I have had a letter from the manager of the Canterbury telephone exchange informing me that 23 of his contracts are behind schedule? Is the Minister satisfied that 793 he has enough powers to put some ginger behind the Post Office?
§ Mr. ChatawayThere are delays and in recent years there has been a lengthening of the waiting list; but, as I made clear in the debate which took place shortly before Easter, this is due mainly to the unforeseen rate of demand which has occurred. The number of connections made is substantially greater than the estimates made a year ago.
§ Mr. GoldingWhat is the average length of delay caused by the failure of equipment manufacturers to deliver equipment on target? Will the Minister make it clear that the reason for the delay in fitting telephones is the shortage of equipment ordered from private enterprise manufacturers?
§ Mr. ChatawayI should need notice to give the hon. Gentleman the figure for which he asks, but there are, as he says, delays in delivery of equipment from private manufacturers. The point I am making is that it is not solely their fault, since there has been a greater demand than they were led to expect.