§ 51. Mr. Pounderasked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on his plans and time scale for increasing further the trunk telephone lines between Belfast and Great Britain, with particular reference to the Midlands and to London.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterWe shall shortly be adding about 70 more trunk lines between Belfast and Great Britain. We are making arrangements to add a further 100 more lines next summer; and in 1967 the provision of entirely new radio equipment will enable a further batch of 100 more lines to be added. These successive additions should ensure that there are enough lines to keep pace with the growth in traffic. The Midlands and London will have their full share of the added lines.