HC Deb 13 March 1969 vol 779 cc336-7W
Mr. Adam Hunter

asked the Postmaster-General how many of the people at present requiring a private telephone in the towns of Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline, respectively, will be required to share a party line; and when he expects the obligation to share a line to become unnecessary.

Mr. Stonehouse

57 and 23 respectively.

We aim to remove the obligation to share as soon as spare plant capacity enables us to do so without risking our ability to meet new demand. I am sorry that I cannot estimate when this will be.

Mr. Adam Hunter

asked the Postmaster-General how many private telephone subscribers in Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline, respectively, who do not share a line at present will be expected to do so in the near future.

Mr. Stonehouse

Within the next 12 months about 35 and 170 respectively.

Mr. Adam Hunter

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present

Year ended 31st March England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales United Kingdom
000's 000's 000's 000's 000's
1947 ……… 369 4 35 15 423
1948 ……… 276 4 25 13 318
1949 ……… 221 4 19 10 254
1950 ……… 263 4 28 9 304
1951 ……… 269 5 26 11 311
1952 ……… 295 4 29 13 341
1953 ……… 262 5 28 12 307
1954 ……… 313 6 36 14 369
1955 ……… 344 7 33 15 399
1956 ……… 354 7 38 17 416
1957 ……… 333 6 41 18 398
1958 ……… 280 6 31 15 332
1959 ……… 296 6 29 16 347
1960 ……… 349 7 33 19 408
1961 ……… 398 8 37 22 465
1962 ……… 372 7 34 21 434
1963 ……… 347 8 32 20 407
1964 ……… 466 9 41 25 541
1965 ……… 596 12 54 32 694
1966 ……… 685 14 72 37 808
1967 ……… 636 13 63 34 746
1968 ……… 680 13 64 37 794
1969 (forecast) … 697 14 72 37 820