HC Deb 28 May 1952 vol 501 cc1356-7
44. Mr. Patrick Maitland

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he accords the same priority to parish clergy as to general practitioners in considering applications for telephone service.

Mr. Gammans

No, Sir, but we do give a measure of priority to applications from ministers of religion, especially in rural areas.

Mr. Maitland

Is my hon. Friend aware that in certain parts of Scotland, at any rate, clergy are given a very much lower priority, and that persons approaching death or in sickness are just as keen to have their minister as to have a doctor?

Mr. Gammons

The Post Office have never pretended that they can give to ministers of religion anything like the same priority as is given to doctors.