HC Deb 17 December 1952 vol 509 cc1385-6
27. Mr. Follick

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General to give instructions that long telephone conversations may be intercepted by the supervisor if an urgent call is waiting to get through.

Mr. Gammans

Telephone operators are already instructed to interrupt telephone conversations in order to offer calls of particular and recognisable urgency, such as emergency calls, and also certain calls where there are semi-technical factors of which I shall be pleased to give the hon. Member particulars if he so wishes. If the hon. Member has a case in mind and will let me have details I shall, of course, be glad to make inquiry.

Mr. Follick

Is the Assistant Postmaster-General not aware that neither the supervisors nor the superintendents know about this regulation that prolonged calls may be intercepted; that I have made inquiries and they tell me there are no technical difficulties; and would he. therefore, send round circulars to the exchange managers directing their attention to the fact that in the case of emergency calls prolonged conversations may be intercepted.

Mr. Gammans

I will look into the point the bon. Gentleman makes. I will send him the particulars I have promised, and I should welcome his comments on them.

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