Letter:American phones

Sir: Regarding the proposed changes to telephone dialling codes (report, 6 August), why is it that, in America, with a population of almost 300 million, a simple three-number area code, followed by a further seven numbers, has proved to be sufficient to satisfy the demand for additional phone lines ever since it was instigated; and why could not such a system be introduced in Britain?

ALAN EARNEY

London W13