§ 13. Mr. Randallasked the Postmaster-General if the committee studying the economics of Post Office telephone kiosks has yet reported; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MawbyThe study to which my right hon. Friend referred in his reply to the hon. Member for Barnsley (Mr. Mason) on 18th November is being made in the ordinary course of Departmental work. We do not expect its full results to be available until later this year.
§ Mr. RandallI am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman, but could he give the assurance that the motive behind the study is not to reduce the number of telephone kiosks in the rural areas?
§ Mr. MawbyThe motive of the study is to try to categorise kiosks properly so that we can know just exactly what the income from kiosks is compared with the social responsibilities which we have, but there is no basic intention of reducing the number of rural kiosks.