§ 66. Major CARVERasked the Postmaster-General how many villages in East Yorkshire have, within the last 12 months, applied for the installation of a telephone; in how many such cases has a guarantee been requested, and, if so, of what amount; and whether there were any cases in which the guarantee was not forthcoming?
§ Viscount WOLMERDuring the last 12 months seven villages in the East Riding have applied for the installation of a public telephone call office. In two of these places call offices have been authorised without guarantee; in two others, the terms have not yet been assessed. In the three remaining cases guarantees of £13 10s., £22 10s. and £51 10s. a year, respectively, have been quoted; one of these guarantees was not forthcoming and the other two are under consideration by the prospective guarantors.
§ Mr. HURDHas any information come to the Noble Lord's Department that the amount required as guarantee is very often a deterrent in cases where a telephone installation is most desirable?
§ Viscount WOLMERI am aware of that fact, but the question is, who is to bear the loss—whether it should be the general public or those who benefit?
§ Mr. HURDIs not the total sum of the guarantee very often far beyond any loss that has been incurred?
§ Viscount WOLMERWe try to assess the guarantee upon the information at our disposal as to what the probable result of the use of the telephone will be. If the hon. Member has any cases in mind where he thinks the amount has been fixed too high, I shall be glad to look into them.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it not a fact that, of the guarantees that are exacted from the users of the telephone, approximately only one-fifth of the amount guaranteed is called for, and does the Noble Lord not think that the Department might consider the advisability of reducing the amount of guarantee by one-half or one-third, in order to stimulate applications for telephone installations?
§ Viscount WOLMERI will consider that suggestion and see what can be done.