§ 55. Mr. Keelingasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that telephone operators in Government offices ordinarily refuse to take messages for officials whose lines are engaged or who are out of their rooms, but that the Air Ministry has now set up a message bureau for this purpose; and whether he will ask all Government Departments to arrange to take messages?
§ Captain CrookshankI am aware that in the larger Government Departments it is not always practicable for telephone 1123 operators to take messages for officials whose lines are engaged or who are out of their rooms. It is, however, the practice for Departments to arrange that in such circumstances the caller may, if he desires, he put through to some other officer, who will deal with his inquiry or take a message. If my hon. Friend has evidence that the arrangements are not working satisfactorily in any particular Department, perhaps he will send me details, and I will bring them to the notice of the responsible Minister.