HC Deb 30 November 1931 vol 260 cc760-1
58. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

asked the Postmaster-General the nature of the telephone changes which are to be made in the administrative areas on the outskirts of London?

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Kingsley Wood)

The changes in question consist in the transfer of a belt of territory near London from the administrative control of the Telephone District Managers at Canterbury, Brighton, Guildford, Beading, St. Albans and Colchester to that of the Controller, London Telephone Service. The changes will take effect early next year. The existing charges for rentals and calls will be unaffected, but the names of the subscribers concerned will appear in the London Telephone Directory.

Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

May I ask whether the Postmaster-General will, at the same time, arrange for the local directories to be continued; otherwise, it will be a matter of some difficulty to search through the whole of the London Directory in order to find the name of Smith or Jones?

Sir K. WOOD

I will consider that point, but I must remind the hon. and gallant Member that a large number of subscribers value the opportunity of their names appearing in the London Telephone Directory.

Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

And may I say that a still larger number desire to be able to find those names which they ordinarily call up, and that this can be arranged for by making a small charge for a local directory.

61. Lord APSLEY

asked the Postmaster-General whether lie will consider schemes for extending the general use of the telephone such as are in operation in America and Scandinavia, for the abolition of rent charges and the reduction in the cost of installation, and any other measures that will lead to a cheaper and more efficient service?

Sir K. WOOD

Schemes for extending the general use of the telephone in this country are constantly in hand. Considerable progress has been made in the reduction of the costs of construction and maintenance of telephone plant as well as in increasing the efficiency of the service. The benefits of the substantial economies effected during the past few years have been passed on to subscribers in the form of reductions of charges for calls and in other ways. The abolition of telephone rent charges would, I may say, be a measure without precedent in any country, and would, I am advised, inevitably involve the subsidisation of the service by the taxpayer.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

In view of the first part of the answer, will the Postmaster-General establish such a service for the Island of Mull and other islands on the Western Coast of Scotland?

Sir K. WOOD

I will gladly investigate the matter.

64. Mr. HUTCHISON

asked the Postmaster-General whether in view of the facilities which exist in respect of telephoning from ships arriving at foreign docks, he can now make a statement as to when he proposes to initiate in the relief London docks telephone services between the ships and the shore?

Sir K. WOOD

Telephone service between ship and shore has for some years been provided in this country for ships regularly using the same dock berths. To meet the case of ships not always using the same dock, a scheme for giving service on a daily charge basis is at present in operation, experimentally, at certain ports in South Wales. If this experiment, is successful, the service will be extended to other ports.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these facilities have been given in Norway for the last 25 years in practically every port?