§ 27. Mr. Atkinsasked the Postmaster-General if he will abolish the charge for an emergency call to the fire, police or ambulance services made from a private telephone, in view of the fact that similar calls from a public call box are free.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonNo, Sir. I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer of 3rd July to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wembley, North (Wing Commander Bullus).
§ Mr. AtkinsWould it not be more in keeping with the spirit of the age that the Department should be prepared to provide this service free of charge to all people in distress rather than to some of them?
§ Mr. ThompsonStrictly speaking, a charge should be levied on all forms of emergency call but because of the difficulty of finding coins to operate a call box we allow these calls free.