§ Lord Balnielasked the Postmaster-General (1) how many of the present applicants for telephones in the Hertford borough area will have their houses connected to the telephone service by the winter of 1968 after the new exchange equipment will have been installed;
(2) how many people are on the waiting list for a telephone in the Hertford borough area; and what is the average time they have to wait before the telephone connection to their house is made.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe new exchange equipment at Hertford was expected to be ready in July, 1968, but because of delay in delivery it will not now be completed until late in October. There are 340 applicants on the waiting list for telephones in their homes, and these will all be connected when the new exchange 329W equipment has been installed. At present they have been waiting for an average of six months, but many have been waiting longer. Some shortages of underground lines may exist in October, 1968, but they will not affect those customers now waiting.