§ 75. Captain Viscount EDNAMasked the Postmaster-General whether he will make arrangements that quarterly telephone and telegraph accounts should be submitted to private subscribers in greater detail than at present, particularly as far as trunk calls and telegrams are concerned, in order that subscribers may maintain a closer check upon the use of their telephones?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe present system of accounts seems to meet the requirements of the general body of subscribers. To supply all subscribers with particulars of each trunk call or telegram would cause considerable delay and expense. Any subscriber, however, 1168 can be supplied with fuller information on payment of a fee proportionate to the clerical work involved.
§ Viscount EDNAMCould the right hon. Gentleman do away with the payment of this fee, and would he consider it a businesslike method of rendering an account in the case of a shop or other private business?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am afraid I very often do receive accounts like that from shops. The supplying of all these particulars to everybody who does not want them is really costing the Department very large sums, but to anybody who does want them we supply the figures.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINWill the right hon. Gentleman consider a division into two parts, at any rate, so as to show in the account whether the sum comes under trunk calls or telegrams? That would be helpful.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI will consider that suggestion.