§ 27. Sir E. Bullusasked the Postmaster-General what is his revised figure for the provision of new individual telephone installations in the next 12 months; and how this figure compares with his original intention.
§ Mr. Edward Short:The forecast of new telephone installations in 1968–69 is now being considered and will be published early in March in a White Paper on Post Office Prospects for 1968–69.
In the White Paper presented last March I estimated that we would provide 840,000 new telephone installations in the current financial year.
§ Mr. Harry Howarthasked the Postmaster-General (1) how many domestic telephone installations there are in the Wellingborough constituency; and how many of these are shared lines;
(2) what steps are being taken to ensure that sufficient telephone equipment is available in Wellingborough to meet the increasing demands by both industry and domestic users as a result of overspill from London;
(3) how many applicants are waiting for telephone installations in the Wellingborough constituency.
§ Mr. Joseph Slater:At 31st December, 1967, in the exchange areas mainly serving the constituency of Wellingborough, there were 4,536 residential installations including 1,893 shared lines. 311 applicants were waiting for telephones, and most of these should be given service by May, 1968.
We are in constant touch with the Local and County Authorities about their plans for the overspill, and have taken account of these in our arrangements for the provision of additional telephone exchange equipment at Wellingborough.