HC Deb 28 March 1939 vol 345 cc1895-7
62. Major Owen

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in certain telephone kiosks in Victoria station, instructions for telephoning are printed in French as well as in English, and in others, in both German and English; and will he, therefore, make provision in telephone kiosks in rural Wales for the printing of the instructions in the Welsh language as well as in English?

The Assistant Postmaster-General (Sir Walter Womersley)

I am aware that in Victoria station certain of the call offices have instructions printed in either French or German as well as English. This is an exceptional arrangement for obvious reasons. In order that these foreign instructions may be displayed it has been necessary to remove the list of call charges, but this does not inconvenience the public generally in London as most of the calls made are within the 2d. range. There are, in addition, call offices adjacent which have a list of charges. The conditions are not comparable with those in rural Wales where a wider range of calls has to be covered and where the list of call charges is much more necessary, and I am sorry, therefore, that I cannot see my way to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

Major Owen

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, besides these notices in French and English or in German and English, there are notices also in those kiosks as to how to send letters by air mail, and how to obtain free calls, and that there is also a mirror; and will the hon. Gentleman explain why so much courtesy should be shown to the foreigner while a stupid —there is no other word for it—Post Office refuses to give these conveniences to Welsh-speaking people?

Sir W. Womersley

I am aware that we have mirrors in the kiosks in Victoria station, but they are a larger type of kiosk than those which are installed in the rural areas. There is no room for a mirror or for instructions in Welsh in the rural area kiosk. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave him some time ago, when I said that, after very careful consideration, and having regard to the small number of Welsh call office users who cannot read English, I think that any slight advantage which might be conferred by the introduction of Welsh translations on the notices would be more than offset by the disadvantage. I do not think that there is anything stupid in that.

Major Owen

Will the hon. Gentleman say on what occasion the Post Office has undertaken any investigation whatsoever as to whether the people who use these telephone kiosks are conversant with English or not? Is it not the fact that on every possible occasion his Department in particular have shown a complete contempt for all requests made by Welsh-speaking citizens of this country?

Mr. Macquisten

Is it not very unkind to provide a Welshman with a mirror?

Sir W. Womersley

I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that I myself made a personal investigation into this matter and called for reports from all districts likely to furnish the right information, and I can only repeat that our investigations proved to us that there are so few people who do not read English that it was not worth while bothering with that matter.

Major Owen

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter at the earliest opportunity on the Adjournment.