§ Mr. Cleaverasked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in carrying out the plan for the development of the telephone service outlined in the White Paper Command No. 2211.
§ Mr. BevinsA very encouraging start in carrying out the plan was made last year, the first of the five years covered by the plan. Telephones were supplied at a rate more than 30 per cent. higher than in the previous year, and the total number in use increased by half a million to nearly 9.5 million. The number of calls increased by 400 million to 5,700 million. By 31st March, 1964, subscriber trunk dialling had been made available to 43 per cent. of subscribers compared with 31 per cent. a year earlier. Only 530 manual exchanges serving 12 per cent. of subscribers remained to be converted to automatic working. I am confident that good progress will be maintained in implementing the plan.