HC Deb 30 June 1965 vol 715 cc618-9
24. Mr. Evelyn King

asked the Postmaster-General if he will list the benefits to which a subscriber is entitled in exchange for his telephone charges.

Mr. Benn

The opportunity to call and be called by practically all those people throughout the world who also have access to a telephone; subject to the usual limitations imposed by acts of God, human errors and technical breakdowns.

Mr. King

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as between Dorset and London the benefit commonly provided in the morning is a synthetic voice which says, "All lines are engaged"? Would the Postmaster-General consider, if this cannot be improved, that subscribers should have some rebate on the rental they pay?

Mr. Benn

As the hon. Gentleman knows, trunk traffic is rising at the rate of about 17 per cent. a year. He will be glad to know that in the next five years more trunk circuits will be provided than in the last 50 years, and this should help to deal with the problem he has in mind.

Mr. King

I was not asking the Postmaster-General about his difficulties in providing the service. He has not answered my Question whether, if the service cannot be provided, which is what I understand him to say, then subscribers ought not to be asked to pay for it.

Mr. Benn

Subscribers who cannot get through because the number which they wish to call is engaged, or the line they need is engaged, are not required to pay and there will be nothing on which to give them a rebate.

Mr. Fisher

In order to enjoy these benefits, and as a first step towards improving this service, would the right hon. Gentleman at least acknowledge that it needs more improvement? It is one of the most frustrating features of modern life trying to get telephone numbers, and if his Department cannot improve the service, would he consider handing it over to private enterprise which, as in the United States, might be more successful?

Mr. Benn

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I have been frank about the deficiencies of the service, which vary very much in different parts of the country. In the South-East and London, where there is congestion in schools and trains, there is also a very serious congestion in the telephone system. This is something that cannot be put right overnight, because one has to get the equipment and install it. I cannot believe that the limitations, which are now limitations of manpower, equipment and sites, would in any way be altered by a change of ownership in the service, and this view was evidently shared by the Conservative Party, which took no move in this direction in 13 years.