§ 62. Colonel Goodmanasked the Postmaster-General what action is taken to cleanse the mouthpieces of the instruments in public telephone boxes, and at what intervals?
§ Sir W. WomersleyThe mouthpieces and earpieces of telephones in call offices provided with an attendant are wiped with a clean cloth moistened with suitable disinfectant every morning. At other call offices the frequency depends on the location of the kiosk and the extent to which it is used.
§ Colonel GoodmanIf no official is handy, are these call office mouthpieces ever disinfected?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI can inform my hon. and gallant Friend that a full investigation has been made into this question by a committee on which medical men sat, and their decision was that the infection was more psychological than actual.
§ Colonel GoodmanDoes my hon. Friend know how frequently the telephone boxes and telephone gear are cleaned and disinfected in the House of Commons?
§ Mr. ThorneCan the hon. Member give any guarantee that everybody's mouth is clean before using the telephone?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI will leave that to my hon. Friend.