§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Postmaster-General (1) how many of the people at present requiring a private telephone in the county borough of Newport, Monmonthshire will be required to share a party line; and when he expects the obligation to share such a line to become unnecessary;
(2) how many private telephone subscribers in the county borough of Newport, Monmouthshire, at present share a party line; and how this figure compares with the number in February, 1968, 1967 and 1966, respectively;
(3) what is the present waiting list of people in the county borough of Newport who require a private telephone; and how this figure compares with the number in February, 1968, 1967 and 1966, respectively.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe figures given below are to the nearest dates for which records are available.
Residential Shared Service Subscribers Residential Waiting List 31st January, 1969 1,241 31st January 1969 119 31st January, 1968 1,100 31st January 1968 287 31st January, 1967 1,025 31st March. 1967 131 31st January. 1966 925 31st March. 1966 4 It is estimated that about 25 per cent. of orders for residential telephones in hand at 31st January, 1969 (46 in course of provision, 119 waiting applications) will be met by shared service.
We aim to remove the obligation to share as soon as spare plant capacity enables us to do so without risking inability to meet all demands. I am sorry that I cannot at present estimate when this will be.