Applications

Oral Answers to Questions — Telephone Service – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 March 1962.

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Photo of Mr Marcus Lipton Mr Marcus Lipton , Lambeth Brixton 12:00, 27 March 1962

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephones are now outstanding; and what the corresponding figure was last year.

Photo of Mr Reginald Bevins Mr Reginald Bevins , Liverpool Toxteth

The present figure is 48,000. This time last year it was 50,000.

Photo of Mr Marcus Lipton Mr Marcus Lipton , Lambeth Brixton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at this rate it will take a very long time before people on the waiting list are dealt with? Since about 1 million people are already sharing lines, cannot the. Postmaster-General do something to expedite the provision of telephones, especially now that he is making more money out of the subscriber trunk dialling system?

Photo of Mr Reginald Bevins Mr Reginald Bevins , Liverpool Toxteth

I do not think we are doing too badly. Last year we installed a record number of telephones—about 460,000. The number on the waiting list at present represents less than 1 per cent. of the 5 million people who have telephones.

Photo of Mr William Williams Mr William Williams , Manchester Openshaw

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, if I am fortunate enough to catch Mr. Speaker's eye tomorrow, I hope to try to prove that he should have been able to do a bit better than he has done with regard to the waiting list?

Photo of Mr Reginald Bevins Mr Reginald Bevins , Liverpool Toxteth

We are doing twice as well as the hon. Gentleman's right hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards).