HC Deb 02 April 1952 vol 498 cc1647-8
12. Mr. Fell

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General what recent changes have been made in the conditions under which subscribers must accept a shared service.

Mr. Gammans

There has been no change. I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Slater) on 26th March.

Mr. Fell

Will my hon. Friend give an assurance that those who were on the telephone service before 1st January, 1948, will not have pressure brought to bear upon them to take a shared service?

Mr. Gammans

I assure the hon. Gentleman that there is no intention whatever of departing from the arrangements regarding the shared service that were made by my predecessor two years ago.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Grey.

Mr. Healy

On a point of order. My Question, No. 13, has not been answered.

Mr. Speaker

I understood the Minister to answer it with No. 9.

Mr. Healy

I did not give permission.

Mr. Speaker

Perhaps the Minister will answer the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Gammans

If the hon. Gentleman wants me to read out the answer, I will read it all over again. It was: In this matter I act in Northern Ireland in pursuance of an express warrant in writing under the hand of the Governor who acts on the advice of the Government of Northern Ireland. The warrant is issued under the prerogative power at common law

Major H. Legge-Bourke

On a point of order. Is it not out of order to indulge in idle repetition, which this seems to be?

Mr. Langford-Holt

Would it not be in order for my hon. Friend to refer the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. Healy) to the answer given to his previous Question?

Mr. Speaker

That course could be followed by the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. Gammans

Then I will refer the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. Healy) to the answer I have already given.

Brigadier Clarke

Is not this another injustice to Ireland?

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Grey.

Mr. Healy

On a point of order. I have not been able to put a supplementary question on this point.

Mr. Speaker

I allowed the hon. Gentleman to put a supplementary question on the previous Question, and this is an exactly identical answer. The hon. Gentleman asked a very long supplementary question.