§ 78. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction in Cardiff at the manner in which telephones are allocated to applicants; and whether he will institute a Departmental inquiry into the methods adopted in Cardiff.
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§ Mr. GammansNo. A special drive is being made in Cardiff to connect up as many outstanding applicants as possible and the city is being tackled area by area so that the engineering labour can be used to best advantage. This must be the overriding consideration. Although as a result some applicants may have been connected slightly out of turn I am satisfied that every effort is made to give fair treatment, but if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I should be pleased to look into it. This concentrated drive has enabled 1,600 people to be connected in Cardiff in the last 12 months.
§ 79. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Assistant Postmaster-General on what grounds he gives priority to bookmakers in Cardiff who apply for the installation of a telephone for business purposes.
§ Mr. GammansThe rule is that bookmakers receive no more priority than new residential applicants, but I regret that recently three bookmakers in Cardiff were given business priority by mistake. The staff concerned have had their attention drawn to the order of priorities.