§ 21. Rear-Admiral Morgan Gilesasked the Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied that adequate safeguards now exist to ensure that subscribers' names are not omitted from telephone directories, except at their own request; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterEvery reasonable precaution is taken to ensure that subscribers' names are properly listed in the appropriate telephone directories but, unfortunately, it is not possible to prevent an occasional human error. I am sorry that the omission from the 1964 edition of the Southampton Area directory occurred, which I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman has in mind. This has been remedied in the March 1965 edition.
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan GilesI thank the hon. Member for that reply. Does he also recognise that there is a real difficulty here because if, as in the case which he rightly surmised I was referring to, the firm's name is left out, it is liable to suffer loss of business for a whole year? In particular, will he look again at the arrangements in respect of the directory inquiry service and make sure that it does everything possible when an unfortunate case like this arises?
§ Mr. SlaterEvery precaution is taken to prevent anything like this happening. The omission was remedied when a new edition of the directory was issued in March 1965.