§ Mr. Donnerasked the Postmaster-General what are the priority allocation arrangements affecting applicants for new telephones; and whether he will give an assurance that in future the great majority of allocations will depend solely upon priority of application.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingPriority for the provision of telephones is given to essential requirements of Government Departments, public utilities, health and life saving services, and those engaged on production and distribution for export or for saving imports. Subject to these broad classes of priority, business applicants are in general given preference over residential applicants. The date of application in each category is the governing factor in providing service, and it is only departed358W from if plant is not available or the amount of work involved is excessive. The present system is operating fairly and I see no reason to alter it.