HC Deb 26 April 1961 vol 639 cc394-5
5. Mr. B. Harrison

asked the Postmaster-General how he distinguishes between a business and private telephone subscriber.

Miss Pike

My right hon. Friend seeks to apply the provisions of Regulation 11 (4) of the Telephone Regulations, 1960, where the emphasis is placed on the purposes for which the premises are likely to be used.

Mr. Harrison

But does not my right hon. Friend think it very silly that if somebody wants to have a business telephone in his house and is willing to pay the business rental, which would provide more income to the Post Office, he should be refused and that he should have to continue to be classified as a private subscriber?

Miss Pike

The great difficulty is that business rental means that a person is not liable to share. People who are prepared to pay the business tariff would be relieved from the liability of sharing and, in the circumstances, I do not think that this would be just.