§ Dame Patricia Hornsby-Smithasked the Postmaster-General how many applications for the installation of a telephone are outstanding for the Imperial, Foots-cray and Orpington exchanges; and what is the average waiting time between application and installation.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterAll applications are being met. On 30th June, the numbers in course of provision were:
Exchange Imperial … 74 Footscray (including Waring Park) … 217 Orpington … 240 Leaving aside orders held up waiting the customers' convenience, the average time to give service is from four to five weeks.
§ Dame Patricia Hornsby-Smithasked the Postmaster-General what proportion of telephones operated from the Imperial, Footscray and Orpington exchanges are shared lines; and how this compares with the average for the whole country.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterThe figures are as follows:
Exchange Shared lines as a percentage of total working connections Imperial 24 Footscray (including Waring Park) 28.3 Orpington 15 The national average is 19.5 per cent.