26. Mr. Watkinsasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will give the average number of rural telephones which have been provided in Wales for each of the periods since April, 1949; and what are the comparable figures for England and Scotland.
§ Mr. GammansThe information could be given, but it would require a disproportionate amount of time and labour to collect as the Post Office central records do not show rural telephones separately from others.
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27. Mr. Watkinsasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many priority sites for rural telephone kiosks which have been submitted by the rural district councils in the counties of Brecknock, Cardigan, Carmarthen, Glamorgan, Monmouth, Pembroke and Radnor since April, 1949, have been rejected; why preference is not given to rural communities; and whether he is satisfied that the scheme initiated in September, 1949, is being implemented at present.
§ Mr. GammansI cannot give the exact figure, but about 30 of the sites proposed by these counties were in excess of their total allotment since 1949.
The provision of rural kiosks is expensive in manpower and materials and it does, in fact, receive a fair share of our limited resources. I can reassure the hon. Member about his last two points, since my noble Friend fully recognises the importance of the telephone in rural areas.