§ 54. Mr. Snowasked the Postmaster-General if he will reconsider his decision not to allow the Reverend C. C. D. Lewis, Vicar of Burntwood, a private telephone line not only in view of his normal parochial work, but also in view of his 934 confidential responsibilities as Chaplain to St. Matthew's Mental Hospital.
Dr. HillI am afraid that the decision must be maintained. We have avoided asking the Vicar of Burntwood to share for as long as we could, but it is now the only way in which we can give telephone service to an applicant in the neighbourhood.
§ Mr. SnowIs not the decision rather lacking in imagination and does not the right hon. Gentleman's own experience as a doctor tell him that there are cases which arise where it is essential that there should be complete confidence as between the staff, the patients and the incumbent in question?
Dr. HillI have a great deal of sympathy with Mr. Lewis, and I have gone into this matter carefully in the hope of finding another way of dealing with the problem. There is a subscriber in the area, the Burntwood Primary School, which is not compelled to share. I have endeavoured to persuade them to share. If the hon. Gentleman will join me in endeavouring so to persuade them, we may solve the problem without requiring Mr. Lewis to share.