HC Deb 25 April 1951 vol 487 cc61-2W
Mr. Watkins

asked the Postmaster-General the number of applicants for telephone service, which are pending, for the area covered by the Bwlch, Breconshire exchange; how many of these have been outstanding for over three years; what are their categories with regard to priority; and how many are considered urgent.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Twenty-one, of which four have been outstanding for over three years and seven are in priority categories.

Mr. Watkins

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications are pending for telephone service within the area covered by the Brecon exchange; how many have been outstanding for the last two years; how many are for farmers; how many are for disabled ex-Service men; and how many are considered urgent.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Seventy-eight; of which 26 have been outstanding for over two years, 25 are in priority categories, 18 are farmers, and one a disabled ex-Service man.

Mr. Watkins

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephones have been installed; how many receive the shared service; and what categories of subscribers have received service during the last three years in the areas covered by the Bwlch and Brecon exchanges.

Mr. Ness Edwards

At Bwlch 15 telephones were installed and eight subscribers given shared service. At Brecon the numbers are 70 and 20. Details of the categories of subscribers are not available.

Mr. Watkins

asked the Postmaster-General what priority system for telephone service is used by the Cardiff district; and whether he will give particulars of the categories adhered to in the County of Brecon.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Priority is given to the essential requirements of public utilities, health and life-saving services, Government Departments, and businesses engaged on production and distribution for export or saving imports. Subject to these broad classes of priority, business applicants are in general given preference over residential applicants. Within each priority category the date of application is the governing factor, subject to the availability of spare plant and to the economic distribution of engineering labour. These rules apply to the County of Brecon as to the country generally.