§ Sir Knox Cunninghamasked the Postmaster-General (1) what is the reason for the inability of the exchange at Crumlin in County Antrim to provide service to applicants for telephones; and when such service will be provided;
(2) how many applications for the telephone service are outstanding on the Crumlin exchange in County Antrim; and what is the longest period for such an application.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterThe lines linking Crumlin to Belfast are seriously overloaded, and if we were to connect anyone else to Crumlin exchange at present it would make it much more difficult for existing customers to make their calls. We are putting down a new cable which should cure the trouble. It should be completed by September 1968, but in the 393W meantime we are taking special measures which should enable us to give service to the 40 waiting applicants within a few weeks. The earliest application dates from November, 1966.