§ 27. Mr. Dayasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a caller dialling O in case of emergency at an automatic telephone box and asking to be connected with the police is asked to first insert 2d. before he can be connected; and whether he will introduce regulations that all emergency calls for police, ambulance, or fire service made at automatic telephone boxes should be put through without this charge?
§ The Postmaster-General (Major Tryon)In the case of an emergency call to the police, a caller should not be asked to insert 2d. before being connected. The notices in the kiosks concerned make it clear that no charge is made for emergency calls, and operators are instructed that the caller must not be asked to pay for them.
§ Mr. DayHas the Postmaster-General investigated the particulars of a case which I sent to him in regard to this matter?
§ Major TryonI understand that in that case someone unnecessarily spent 2d. instead of asking for an emergency call.