90. Mr. J. T. Priceasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applications for telephone service are now outstanding in Blackrod, Hindley, Horwich, Standish and Westhoughton; and what progress is anticipated in these districts during the coming year.
§ Mr. GammansThe applications outstanding in the five districts number 18, 38, 40, 86 and 24. I hope that about 130 new lines will be provided during the current year. I am glad to say that a number of subscribers in Blackrod recently agreed to share their lines and so enabled telephones to be given to applicants for whom spares lines were not available.
91. Mr. J. T. Priceasked the Assistant Postmaster-General if he is aware that the Napier Agricultural Equipment Company of Blackrod, Lancashire, is being hampered in the development of its export trade by the absence of telephone service which his Department has failed to provide in spite of repeated promises to do so over a lengthy period; and if he will take steps to remedy this matter without further delay.
§ Mr. GammansI hope that the telephone will be provided by the end of next month. I recognise the importance of the telephone to the company, but with our limited resources the amount of new construction work required could not be justified for a single line. As explained in recent correspondence with the hon. Member, it is now being combined with two other jobs, but the work has been delayed by difficulty in obtaining the necessary wayleave.