asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of applicants for telephone service on the waiting list at Morpeth, and at Ashington, Northumberland; how long they have been waiting; and whether he will make a statement.

The figures are as follows:

—		Applications on Waiting List	Applications under enquiry or in course of being met
Morpeth	…	37	46
Ashington	…	42	17

Applications held up because of shortage of plant vary from time to time, and a reliable average waiting period cannot be quoted. About 3 per cent. of the outstanding applications have been held up for more than two years.Cables are being laid in Morpeth and are planned for Ashington. I hope to give service to the majority of those waiting by the autumn of 1962.Two hundred and five telephones were installed in these two places in the past twelve months.