HC Deb 15 November 1945 vol 415 cc2297-8
11. Mr. Driberg

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General if a record is kept by his Department of all telephone wrong numbers, or only those reported by callers.

Mr. Burke

It is impracticable for the Post Office to record wrong numbers unless they are reported by subscribers, but a sample record is kept from which it is possible to assess the percentage of calls which fail, and the causes of failure.

Mr. Driberg

Was it on that sample that the apparently reassuring percentages were based which my hon. Friend gave the House the other day?

Mr. Burke

Yes, it was on that sample, which is taken continuously over a very wide field, the whole of the year round, and provides us with a figure which we believe is substantially correct.

Mr. Gallacher

Is a record made of the remarks passed by callers?

Mr. Burke

The Post Office does not listen in.