HC Deb 12 February 1963 vol 671 cc1099-100
11. Mr. David James

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will ensure, for greater convenience of hon. Members, that all writing paper of all Government Departments carries a printed telephone number and printed private office extension number as well as the address.

Mr. Barber

It is already the practice to print Departmental telephone numbers on all notepaper printed for general Departmental use.

So far as Ministers and senior officials are concerned, this is a matter for the discretion of the user. The several extensions of Ministers' private offices are well known to the Departmental switchboard operators.

In order to oblige my hon. Friend, I am having the next batch of my own notepaper printed with the telephone number of the Treasury which, for his information meanwhile, is WHItehall 1234.

Mr. James

I thank the Financial Secretary for that reply. Will he bear in mind in setting an example to his colleagues in the Government that by no means all hon. Members can remember the telephone numbers of all Ministers, and that in these days of rapid change there is a surprising number of switchboard operators who do not even recognise the names of Ministers or their Parliamentary Secretaries?

Mr. Barber

I am sure that the extreme difficulties which are facing my hon. Friend will be noted by my colleagues in the Government.