§ 27. Mr. H. Clarkasked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made in the investigation into the practicability of installing public telephones on railway trains; and when such a telephone service will be introduced.
§ Mr. BevinsThe provision of public radiotelephones on railway trains is technically feasible, but the establishment of a satisfactory service would be
| STATEMENT OF THE MAIN ITEMS OF BUSINESS TRANSACTED AT THE ST. HELENS POST OFFICE DURING THE TWELVE MONTHLY PERIODS ENDED ON 31ST OCTOBER, 1958 AND 31ST OCTOBER, 1959 | |||||
| I.—Counter Business | |||||
| Class of Business | Year ended 31st October | Increase or decrease | |||
| 1958 | 1959 | Number | Percentage | ||
| Pensions and Allowances Paid | … | 111,122 | 115,866 | + 4,744 | + 4.3 |
| Money Orders Issued and Paid | … | 16,961 | 15,474 | - 1,487 | - 8.8 |
| Postal Orders Issued and Paid | … | 443,798 | 431,974 | - 11,824 | - 2.7 |
| Telephone Accounts Paid | … | 1,514 | 1,683 | + 169 | + 11.2 |
| Broadcast Receiving Licences Issued:— | |||||
| Sound | … | 3,506 | 2,760 | - 746 | - 21.3 |
| Television | … | 5,973 | 5,996 | + 23 | + .4 |
| Stamps Sold | … | £736,857 | £800,938 | + £64,081 | + 8.7 |
| Unregistered Parcels Posted | … | 32,136 | 26,104 | - 6,032 | - 18.8 |
| Registered Letters and Packets Posted | … | 36,368 | 28,616 | - 7,942 | - 21.3 |
| Registered Parcels Posted | … | 2,957 | 2,620 | - 337 | - 11.4 |
| Telegrams Accepted | … | 4,551 | 4,039 | - 512 | - 11.3 |
§ very costly. There is not enough evidence of public demand at present to justify expenditure on such a service.
§ Mr. ClarkDoes not my right hon. Friend consider that people would be prepared to pay a considerably increased charge for this facility and that a radiotelephone service would encourage people to travel by rail rather than by road?
§ Mr. BevinsI think that part of that supplementary question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, but I think that I might be allowed to say that in my personal view the demand for this facility is very limited indeed and I do not believe that it would pay.