HC Deb 28 February 1922 vol 151 cc261-2
72. Mr. T. THOMSON

asked the Postmaster-General whether his telephone Department declines to give detailed particulars to their customers of its charges for the transmission of telegrams and cables, as well as for telephone calls, as rendered in their quarterly accounts, except in the case of three days in each quarter; and, if so, will he favourably reconsider the desirability of giving full information in the case of telegrams and cables, even if he cannot do so at present in the case of telephone calls?

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Kellaway)

To supply particulars of telephone trunk calls and telegrams transmitted by telephone would give rise to heavy additional office expenses, which would have to be distributed among the whole of the subscribers, including those who make little or no use of these facilities. Those who desire more detail than is provided in the ordinary quarterly account, can have it on payment of a fee proportionate to the clerical work involved, and this, I think, is an equitable arrangement. With regard to local calls, irrespective of cost, the drag on the operating which would be caused by any attempt to record the destination of every local call, makes such a system impracticable.

Mr. THOMSON

Why does the right hon. Gentleman differentiate between cables and ordinary telephone calls? Is he aware that this is contrary to every ordinary business in running trade accounts?

Mr. KELLAWAY

I do not think that a parallel exists, but I will certainly consider the point.

Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAY

Is not registering the local calls the only way of checking the Post Office returns, which are often inaccurate?

Mr. KELLAWAY

If attempts were made to check every local call and keep a record of it, it would make the system impossibly expensive. Our system has been copied by every telephone administration in the world.