§ 42. Mr. C. Smithasked the Postmaster-General whether he can make any estimate of the degree to which the current waiting list of applicants for telephone service is due to shortage of engineering labour as distinct from shortage of equipment.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingAbout 6 per cent. of the outstanding applications for telephone service are held up on account of shortage of Post Office engineering labour.
§ 43. Mr. C. Smithasked the Postmaster-General what the aggregate number of waiting applicants for telephone service was at the latest convenient date; how the figure compared with the number six months before; and at what rate new applications for service are being received.
§ Mr. Wilfred Paling552,415 applicants were waiting for telephone service at 30th September last. This is 7,855 less than the number who were waiting at the end of March. New applications are being received at the rate of 29,500 a month.