HC Deb 09 March 1966 vol 725 cc551-2W
Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a recent survey in Putney found that, of 83 public telephones there, 17 were in full working order, 43 were useable for emergency calls only, and 21 were completely out of order; and if he will provide more telephones in supervised premises.

Mr. Joseph Slater

We are doing all we can to restore full service to public telephones, but there is a temporary shortage of spare parts. There are already 120,000 rented coinbox telephones in supervised premises throughout the country, and I hope that by means of the portable coinbox telephone which is now being developed it will be possible to increase this number.