§ Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Postmaster-General if he will publish a table showing the number of persons awaiting connection to the telephone system in each year since 1945, the number installed annually and the total number in use in each year.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe figures are as follows:
Total Orders in Hand at 31st March (thousands) Telephone connections in use at 31st March (thousands) Number of telephone connections provided during year ended 31st March (thousands) 1946 … 360 2,339 244 1947 … 448 2,644 423 1948 … 488 2,868 318 1949 … 560 3,019 254 1950 … 552 3,140 304 1951 … 533 3,291 311 1952 … 482 3,463 341 1953 … 427 3,591 307 1954 … 376 3,770 369 1955 … 372 4,007 399 1956 … 344 4,265 416 1957 … 246 4,474 398 1958 … 171 4,500 332 1959 … 145 4,606 347 1960 … 144 4,784 408 1961 … 170 5.037 465 1962 … 147 5,210 434 1963 … 161 5,354 407 1964 … 172 5,620 541 1965 … 175 6,030 694 1966 … 227 6,535 808 "Orders in Hand" includes both orders on the waiting list because lines and/or equipment are not immediately available, and orders which are in course of being met.