§ 23. Mr. Milneasked the Postmaster General when he expects the work in providing a new and up-to-date telephone service in the Cramlington area will be completed; and if he will make a statement.
156W
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterEarly next year we will open the new telephone exchange which will give our customers S.T.D. facilities. They will then be able to dial 75 to 80 per cent. of their trunk calls. In the meantime as my hon. Friend knows we are arranging to give service to all customers waiting for the telephone. The present bottleneck on lines between Newcastle and Morpeth which has been giving rise to difficulties on many trunk calls from Cramlington will be ended within three months when we will practically double the number of circuits.