§ Sir G. de Freitasasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he is aware that the capital expenditure on telephone exchange equipment has risen from £41 million in 1964–65 to £60.7 million in 1966–67; and what approximately was the rise in the area covered for Northamptonshire, in. eluding or excluding Northampton, whichever is statistically most convenient;
(2) whether he is aware that the capital expenditure on telephone subscribers' apparatus has risen from £38.1 million in 1964–65 to £451 million in 1966–67; and what approximately was the rise in the area covered for Northamptonshire, including or excluding Northampton, whichever is statistically most convenient.
§ Mr. Edward ShortAs to the first part of these two Questions, yes.
As I told my right hon. Friend in reply to his Questions on 23rd June, the alignment of our expenditure with parliamentary constituencies would involve undue cost, and I regret that alignment with county boundaries presents the same problem. I am writing to my right hon. Friend to explain the problems involved.