38. Mr. Wilson Harrisasked the Postmaster-General whether he will restrict conversations in public telephone boxes to three minutes.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingThe hon. Member's suggestion would involve the installation of special timing and control equipment for public call offices at all automatic exchanges, as well as modification of part of the equipment at manual exchanges. Its adoption would be impracticable under present conditions, in view of the restricted production of exchange equipment for home use.
Mr. Wilson HarrisHas the right hon. Gentleman never seen young men, with that daft look on their faces which always indicates something feminine at the other end of the wire, occupying telephone boxes for anything up to 10 minutes while half a dozen of His Majesty's lieges wait outside to use the machine for their lawful occasions; and could he not at least put up in the boxes some such notice as Please restrict your conversation to three minutes"; or "Is your conversation really necessary"?
§ Mr. PalingWe do that but unfortunately everyone does not take notice of them. To do what is suggested in the Question is a matter of equipment which we cannot supply at the moment.
§ Mr. OsborneDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that we have quite sufficient restrictions already?