§ 65. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Postmaster-General whether he can give the House the name of the official responsible for the admitted blunder in printing the index letters in the telephone book close to the binding instead of at the head of the outside columns, and thereby causing the public the greatest inconvenience?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe current Telephone Directory is the first to be issued under new printing arrangements, and the error in question is the result of a misunderstanding between the Post Office and the printers. I do not think any useful purpose would be served by pursuing the subject further.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWith all deference, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he does not consider that a somewhat poor excuse? Surely the Post Office possesses officials of some kind to revise work that comes from the printers, before it is passed?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHA mistake has been made, and all I can say is that it is not a Post Office official who is responsible.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWill the right hon. Gentleman consider whether the Post Office cannot change its printers?
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs there no official who is responsible for supervising documents before they are issued to the public?
§ Sir W. DAVISONMay I have a reply to my question?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThey are supervised as a rule, certainly, but in this case I do not think the book was supervised after it was bound.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINI shall put this question again in a week's time.