§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will issue a direction to the Post Office requiring it to ensure that no handicapped people, in particular those provided with telephones under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, or by the family fund, have their phones disconnected because of their inability to pay the delayed telephone bills now being sent out; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael MarshallNo. Help for the handicapped under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Act 1970 is a matter for the local authorities concerned, and it is of course important that telephone bills are paid promptly. But I am assured by the Post Office that it is prepared to consider sympathetically cases of genuine hardship.