§ Mr. Channonasked the Postmaster-General what is the average waiting time for private automatic branch exchange telephone exchanges in the Southend telephone area and how many applications are outstanding.
§ Mr. BevinsThe average waiting time in the Southend Area for the types of private automatic exchanges supplied 117W by the Post Office has been ten months. An immediate improvement is, unfortunately, not possible because of shortage of equipment and the high level of demand. I have, however, arranged for the rate of manufacture to be increased and I expect that the delays will be much reduced by the summer. There are 12 outstanding applications in the Southend Area.