§ 2. Major Hugh Fraserasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether it remains the policy of his Department to construct at Post Office expense public telephone kiosks in districts telephonically remote in reply to representative local requests; and if so, why the Post Office has refused to contemplate erecting a kiosk at Ape Tor in the Stone Division of Staffordshire.
§ Mr. BurkeThe Post Office policy is to provide at its own expense a public telephone kiosk in every village where there is a post office. Where there is no post office, a kiosk is provided if the local authority agrees to pay£4 a year, for a period of five years only, as a small contribution towards the heavy expense involved; and this condition would apply at Ape Tor. Owing to the shortage of labour and materials, it would in any case be impossible to undertake the work for some time to come. There is, however, a public call office within one mile of Ape Tor.
§ Major FraserIn view of the need to increase rural amenities, might I ask the Minister whether it will be possible for this very rich public corporation, as the Post Office is, with its many agents scattered throughout the country, to undertake small risks of this sort without having recourse to assistance from local authorities?
§ Mr. BurkeIt is not that this charge is put on for the monetary effect. It is only to give us an indication that the demand is backed up by the local authority. It does not by any means meet the expense of keeping the kiosk.
§ Sir Wavell WakefieldWill the Minister see that greater telephone facilities are provided in the Palace of Westminster for Members?