HC Deb 14 May 1958 vol 588 cc389-90
16. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Postmaster-General at what intervals telephone instruments in call-boxes at London main line railway termini are inspected for faults.

Mr. K. Thompson

A full inspection of these boxes is carried out on alternate days and test calls are frequently passed on other days by Post Office officials.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Will my hon. Friend, and, perhaps, his right hon. Friend, make one of their famous tours by walking round and picking up the telephone instruments in the London railway termini, where I think it will be found that about one in every three is out of order at any one time? Is my hon. Friend aware that the general public possibly do not report these faults and, therefore, they do not get picked up by the Post Office?

Mr. Thompson

If my hon. Friend has examples of where the telephones are not working, we will certainly look into them. We do, however, maintain the closest possible watch on them.