§ 33. Mr. Haymanasked the Postmaster-General to what extent he continues to pay regard to non-commercial considerations in the provision and siting of public telephone kiosks.
§ Mr. BevinsI have regard both to public amenity and to public finance. It is rare for a telephone kiosk to be refused where there is a clear need for one. At the same time there is a limit to what we can do in view of our current loss of more than £3 million a year on public kiosks.
§ Mr. HaymanCan the Minister indicate by what percentage the provision of public telephone kiosks is less now than it was, say, five years ago?
§ Mr. BevinsOn the contrary, the provision of kiosks has not fallen but has increased, and we have about 75,000 kiosks throughout the country, which is very substantially greater than in any other European country.
§ Mr. BlackburnWill the Postmaster-General add to the 75,000 and make it 75,001 by putting one on the Wood head Road near where the former hon. Member for Rotherham was killed?
§ Mr. BevinsI will take note of that and see what I can do.