§ 49. Mr. GOLDMANasked whether, in view of the importance of the telephone to the commercial community and the public interest in that service, the Prime Minister will grant a special day for the discussion of that subject?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs the question of the telephone service can be raised on the Post Office Estimates or on any other occasion when the administration of the Department is under review, I do not think it necessary that a special day should be given for a discussion of the subject.
§ Mr. GOLDMANCan the right hon. Gentleman give us two days for the discussion of the Post Office Estimates?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will consider that. I must consult the general wish.
§ 60. Mr. JOWETTasked the Postmaster-General whether sub-postmasters for the last five months have been and are now called upon to issue receipts in triplicate for telephone accounts; if so, what payment he intends to make for the extra work over and above the allowance on unit scale, which covers the issue of the necessary money orders or postage stamps only; and if he will say what remuneration he proposes to pay sub-postmasters for the issue of receipts for accounts which are paid by customers of the telephone department by cheque sent direct to district offices?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have received representations on this subject from the National Federation of Sub-postmasters, and the matter is under consideration.
§ 62. Mr. GOLDMANasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the Associated Chambers of Commerce at their conference on 12th March urging that the telephone service should be placed under a special Department, separate from the Post Office and responsible to the Postmaster-General, and that a Select Committee should be appointed to consider the question; and what steps he proposes taking in the matter?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI do not consider that the management of the telephones can be separated with advantage from the management of the telegraphs since the same buildings, poles, and underground cables are largely used for both; nor is it practicable to separate the two services from the Post Office Department. In view of the fact that Parliament has so recently dealt with the subject by legislation I do not propose to move for the appointment of a Select Committee.
§ Mr. GOLDMANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman what steps he proposes to take to meet the reasonable demands of the great commercial community of this country for a more efficient telephone system?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELIt would be impossible within the limits of a Parliamentary reply to answer that question, but I should be very glad to discuss it when a suitable occasion arises.