§ 5. Mr. George Craddockasked the Assistant Postmaster-General the Government's policy in relation to shared telephones; and how many complaints 936 he has received from ministers of religion and professional persons against this practice.
§ Mr. GammansIn order to make the most effective use of our limited capital resources, we have to ask all new and removing residential subscribers to accept the liability to share their lines. This system has enabled us since the war to put over 300,000 people on the telephone who would not otherwise have one. Considering the initial, and very natural, doubts and reluctance which people have to sharing, we have had remarkably few complaints, and my belief is that most people find the service very satisfactory.
Mr. EnrollCan the Assistant Postmaster-General say whether this is to be the permanent policy of the telephone service or whether we may some day in the future all be able to have our own lines again?
§ Mr. GammansSharing may have come to stay, but I should like to do away with compulsory sharing at the earliest possible moment.
§ Mr. G. ThomasWill the hon. Gentleman say what categories of people are not expected to share?
§ Mr. GammansOne category which does not share is Members of Parliament.
§ Mr. ThomasI know, but what are the others?