asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many applicants are on the waiting list for telephones in the Borough of Bolton; how many telephones have been installed during 1951; and what is, and who settles, the order of priorities in the allocation of new telephones.

On 31st December, 1951, 1,283 applications were on the waiting list, and 70 under survey, 866 applications were met during 1951.Priority is given to the essential requirements of public utilities, health and life saving services, Government Departments and businesses engaged on production and distribution for exports or saving imports. Outside these broad classes of priority, business applicants are in general given preference over residential applicants, and removing subscribers over new applicants. Individual cases are settled by the local telephone manager within the order of priorities laid down by my noble Friend.