§ Mr. Martenasked the Postmaster-General what is the telephone waiting list in Banbury; how many new telephone lines will be available in Banbury bettween now and the beginning of 1968; what proposals he has to overcome the shortage of telephones in Banbury; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterSome two hundred applicants are waiting for telephones in Banbury. Additional equipment to provide for 1,600 new lines is in course of provision, but as this will not start to become available until the spring of 1967, I regret that many applicants will have to wait until then for service. It is not easy to forecast the growth of telephones in Banbury, which is likely to expand considerably, but the current addition should meet requirements well beyond the beginning of 1968 and plans for the more distant future are being made.