§ Mr. Kenneth Bakerasked the Postmaster-General (1) what is the average length of waiting time for applicants for telephones in Acton;
(2) how many people in Acton are on the waiting list for telephones.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterThe exchanges serving Acton are Acorn, the greater part of Shepherds Bush and Hogarth, and a small part of Chiswick. Nobody is waiting on Chiswick, where service is provided on demand. A total of 339 Acton residents are on the waiting lists at the other three exchanges and they have been waiting, on average, two to three months. The difficulty is shortage of equipment. Relief schemes are planned for the three exchanges; the 145 people waiting in Hogarth and Shepherds Bush exchange areas will be given service this autumn, and 194 in Acorn exchange area, in the spring of next year.