HC Deb 19 April 1950 vol 474 cc130-1
41. Mr. Leather

asked the Postmaster-General why his Department refused to transfer the line, Portishead 2158, standing in the name of Mr. Rowland J. Niblett, on Mr. Niblett's change of residence: why he was not notified of this refusal until three weeks after moving; why the line was transferred to another name without any notification; and whether he will take steps to have an instrument installed in Mr. Niblett's new residence.

The Postmaster-General (Mr. Ness Edwards)

As the answer is somewhat technical and long I will, with permission. circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Leather

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I put this Question down to draw attention to the general delay throughout the whole telephone department in dealing with correspondence, which is responsible for this kind of annoyance? In case the Postmaster-General should plead shortage of his equipment, is he aware that a senior executive in the industry recently said that if his Department would place orders there would be no shortage?

Mr. Ness Edwards

The constituent about whom the hon. Gentleman wrote to me has on two occasions been offered a shared service. He has now been offered a shared service on a third occasion and we have been waiting for a week for his reply.

Following is the reply:

Mr. Niblett's original line could not be used for his new residence which is in an area served by another branch cable, and the line was accordingly transferred to the incoming occupant at Mr. Niblett's old address. No engineering work was involved in this transfer, but the new occupier has since been called upon to share his line with a neighbour. It was not possible to notify Mr. Niblett of the difficulties in providing service at his new address until staff was available to survey the plant in that locality. The survey showed that there was only one spare line for a number of neighbouring applicants and Mr. Niblett was, therefore, offered shared service. He has twice refused this service and arrangements are in hand to use the line for two of the other waiting applicants. I am, however, arranging for the work to be held up for another week in order to give Mr. Niblett a final opportunity of accepting the service offered.