§ 10. Mr. Sidney Marshallasked the Assistant Postmaster-General what alterations are projected in regard to the publication of the London telephone directory.
§ Mr. GammansI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 20th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Ian Harvey).
§ Mr. MarshallCan the Minister say if it is really definite that the London telephone directory as we now know it is not to be divided up into purely local directories?
§ Mr. GammansThat is another question.
§ Air Commodore A. V. HarveyTo overcome this difficulty, will my hon. Friend issue amendments to the London telephone directory where he is not going to issue a full directory?
§ Mr. GammansI do not think that is necessary because already the new directory will go to business subscribers and to new subscribers, and any private subscriber who wants a copy can get one if he asks for it.
§ 20. Mr. Charles Fletcher-Cookeasked the Assistant Postmaster-General if his revised regulations allow a residential telephone subscriber in the London area to obtain a copy of a new issue of the London telephone directory merely by asking for it; to whom application must be made; and in what manner.
§ Mr. GammansIf an existing residential subscriber specially needs a new issue, one will be provided; he should apply for it to his local telephone manager, preferably in writing.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeHow does my hon. Friend define "special need"? Is this a needs test of some form or other?
§ Mr. GammansNo, Sir. There is no difficulty about it. If any private subscriber really wants a telephone directory we shall be only too pleased to see that he has one.
§ Mr. EdeIf the subscriber makes an application once, will that be only for that issue, or must he make an application for each issue of the directory?
§ Mr. GammansThe subscriber must make an application for each issue of the directory.
§ Mr. NicholsonMy hon. Friend said he would be pleased to see that a subscriber got a directory if he wanted 1132 one. Did he mean to say "if the subscriber asks for it"? That is really what the Question asks.
§ Mr. GammansI am sorry if I conveyed a wrong impression. If the subscriber asks for a directory, he will get one.
§ Mr. J. Langford-HoltIs my hon. Friend aware that for some four years his Department, against my better wishes, has been sending me four copies of every telephone directory for one telephone number? He might find a useful source of supply there.