§ 52. Mr. CONANTasked the Postmaster-General whether he will issue instructions that telegrams delivered by telephone should, where practicable, be delivered to the addressee in person?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Ernest Bennett)The instructions to operators on the procedure to be followed in the delivery of telegrams by telephone are at present under review. My hon. Friend's suggestion will he borne in mind in this connection, but it will be appreciated that the matter must depend largely on the discretion allowed by the subscriber to those who may answer the telephone on his behalf.
§ Mr. PIKEWill the hon. Member also take into consideration the system already existing which, in the event of an appeal for a repeat of that telegram over the telephone, prevents the operator ascertaining the whereabouts of the original telegram within a period of eight hours? Will he institute proceedings by which such gross delay may be eliminated?
§ Sir E. BENNETTI will certainly take note of what the hon. Member says.
§ 53. Mr. DENMANasked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to repeated comments of the Public Accounts Committee on the loss on the telegraph service; and whether he proposes to take steps to place it on a remunerative basis?
§ Sir E. BENNETTAs stated by the committee presided over by Lord Bridgeman, many steps have been taken to improve the financial position of the telegraph service by the introduction and standardisation of teleprinter apparatus, by re-adjustment in the apportionment to telegraphs of certain common service staff costs, and by a closer adjustment of staff to traffic. The loss has been reduced from £1,380,000 in 1927–28 to about £828,000 in 1932–33. Further economies are anticipated as soon as present schemes have been completed, and the recommendations suggested by Lord Bridgeman's Committee, which are on the lines that have already been adopted, will also be carefully examined, but my right hon. Friend cannot, for reasons stated in the report, hold out any prospect of making the service remunerative until there is a material increase in the traffic and revenue.
§ Mr. DENMANAre we to understand that the taxpayers are to be called upon indefinitely to pay twopence out of every shillingsworth of telegraphy which the Postmaster-General provides? Will he not take steps to put it on a remunerative basis in a businesslike way?
§ Sir E. BENNETTI have just said that steps have been taken to improve the financial position.
§ Mr. ATTLEEIs it a fact that the taxpayer does not pay it, but that the people pay it in their stamps on letters?