§ 36. Mr. Milneasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make arrangements for telephone calls to Members of Parliament to be received and messages taken at a time earlier in the day than present arrangements permit.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe Members' Telephone Room is manned by G.P.O. staff from 9 a.m. to the Rising of the House on every sitting day. Throughout these hours telephone calls are received and messages taken for Members of Parliament. These hours are considered to be adequate.
§ Mr. MilneIs my right hon. Friend aware that the hour of 9 o'clock seems to be inaccurate, because numerous messages have been taken before 10 o'clock and the callers have been told that nothing can be done with messages for Members before 10 a.m.? Will my right hon. Friend look more closely into the matter?
§ Mr. CrossmanI anticipated my hon. Friend's question. The trouble may be due to the fact that the letter board is manned from 10 a.m. and the telephones from 9 a.m. If hon. Members approach the telephone side, they will get all the help they can from there with messages received between 9 and 10 o'clock. I am grateful for the opportunity of announcing this service to hon. Members.