30.
asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants in the county borough of Gateshead are awaiting telephones; the date of the earliest of their applications; how many of the applicants applied in that and in each succeeding year; and when he expects to provide additional telephone facilities in the area.
As the reply contains a series of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the reply:
In the county borough of Gateshead, 892 applications for telephone service are outstanding, the earliest dating from 1943. The details are as follow:
| 1943 | 2 |
| 1944 | 5 |
| 1945 | 19 |
| 1946 | 122 |
| 1947 | 214 |
| 1948 | 251 |
| 1949 | 151 |
| 1950 | 39 |
| Total | 803 |
| Telephones in course of installation | 89 |
| Total | 892 |
Additional plant will be provided this year to meet the needs of most of the area, and the provision of additional plant for the rest of the area is planned for next year. The work of connecting up the new subscribers will be undertaken as quickly as our staffing resources permit.