§ 16. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of applications in Aberdeen city on the waiting list for telephones to the latest convenient date during each of the last 10 years; what ratio this bears to the total number of telephones in the city; what he is doing to provide the telephones wanted; and when he expects to complete that task.
§ Mr. MarplesRecords for 1949 are not available, but the figures from 1950 onwards of applications waiting for line plant and equipment are as follows:
Year Number waiting Number waiting as a percentage of the total number of telephones 1950 … 1,685 12.6 1951 … 1,662 12.0 1952 … 606 4.2 1953 … 465 3.0 1954 … 779 4.8 1955 … 987 5.8 1956 … 454 2.5 1957 … 94 0.5 1958 … 42 0.2 In addition to the 42 applications on the waiting list on 31st December last there were 205 others under inquiry or in course of being met. New demand has 110W averaged 1,400 in the past five years and is expected to be about 1,200 this year. Additional plant will be brought into service and we expect to be able to meet the demand.