§ 33. Mr. Sorensenasked the Postmaster-General what facilities have been granted to the Information Exchange for General Post Office Telephone Subscribers, a private concern claiming to offer certain services to persons whose names have been selected from the General Post Office Directory; and what inquiries he has had respecting this firm and its invitation to join their scheme by payment of £6 5s. after £25 has been earned by utilising the telephone according to their instructions.
§ Mr. BevinsNo special facilities have been asked for and none have been provided. Several inquiries have been received from recipients of the Information Exchange circulars. We have made it clear to them that the Post Office has neither sponsored nor supported the scheme.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this rather strange concern is liable to mislead a good number of people particularly by its name and the financial proposals embodied in its circular? Cannot something be done to acquaint possible subscribers to this dubious concern about what it is actually doing?
§ Mr. BevinsSeveral hon. Members from both sides of the House have passed these papers on to me and I have passed them in turn both to the authorities and to my legal advisers, and both have advised me that there are no grounds for legal proceedings. This is a service giving racing intelligence—tips on horses.
§ Mr. MasonCan the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that his Department will not give encouragement to this private concern in the future?
§ Mr. BevinsNo encouragement whatsoever has been given. The firm is simply using the telephone.