§ Sir N. Cooper-Keyasked the Postmaster-General whether, following representations by the hon. Member for Hastings, he is now able to make a statement on the plans for the improvement of the telephone service in that borough.
§ Mr. Joseph Slater:I expect the present pressure on the Hastings manual telephone exchange to be relieved by next 422W autumn. By then we shall have put in additional switchboards.
We started the building, which will house a new automatic exchange, last September. It should be up in 1970. We will then install the equipment and open the new exchange in 1972. Hastings will then have subscriber trunk dialling.
Meanwhile, we are keeping a full staff at the manual exchange and giving as good a service as possible.