§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the number of telephone lines connected to subscribers in Scotland last year and the year before was 8.25 per cent. and 8 per cent., respectively, of the total for the United Kingdom; whether he will arrange that Scotland should have at least eleven-eightieths of the available equipment; and whether, in view of Scotland's annual exposure to greater storm damage proportionately than England and Wales, he will transfer extra personnel to Scotland for telephone maintenance.
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§ Mr. GammansI am not aware of the basis for the proportion of eleven-eightieths suggested by my hon. Friend, but I can assure him that Scotland receives a fair share of the available resources. This is borne out by the fact that, in proportion to population or the number of existing telephones, outstanding applications for telephone service in Scotland are slightly less than in the rest of the United Kingdom. Due account is taken of the liability to storm damage in making financial allocations and temporary loans of staff are arranged when damage is extensive