§ 29. Sir W. Bromley-Davenportasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that most people find it more difficult to memorise seven-figure telephone numbers than those with three letters and four numerals, he will undertake to leave all relevant telephone dials with suitable letters of the alphabet against each number, so that subscribers can if they wish translate the new seven-figure numbers into three letters and four numerals as hitherto.
§ 34. Mr. Goodhartasked the Postmaster-General by what date he expects the transition to all-number dialling in the Greater London area will be completed.
§ Mr. Edward ShortWe have no plans for replacing lettered dials on existing telephones. We shall not provide lettered dials on new instruments when the change to all-figure numbering is complete.
All London automatic telephones which previously had the first three letters of the exchange name in capitals will have been given all-figure numbers by September this year.
§ Sir W. Bromley-DavenportIs not the present system very unsatisfactory? How many people can remember seven-figure telephone numbers? Is it not possible to think up something simpler for the use of the customer?
§ Sir W. Bromley-DavenportIs that the answer?
§ Mr. Short—and we found that arbitrary groups of letters are just as difficult to remember as figures. On the other hand, I agree that letters which look like the name of the exchange are much easier to remember. We have, however, no option in the matter. If international dialling has to develop, we must go on to all-figure numbers.
§ Mr. GoodhartWill the Postmaster-General go as slowly as he can in this direction? Will he bear in mind that in America, which has had years of experience in this connection, there is still grave dissatisfaction with all-figure dialling?
§ Mr. ShortI quite agree, and I regret that it has had to happen, but it must happen. That is the way things are going in the world. We must move with everybody else. We will, however, move very slowly to give people time to adapt themselves to it.
§ Mr. McNamaraIs my right hon. Friend aware that in the Hull telephone system we already have six-figure numbers and that this is working without any complaint whatever?
§ Mr. ShortThe problem facing telecommunications people is that no two telephone subscribers in the world must have the same number.
§ Sir J. RodgersIn addition to consulting psychologists, will the right hon. Gentleman consider conducting market research amongst consumers, when I think that he would find that there were real difficulties for the average person in remembering a long list of figures?
§ Mr. ShortI quite agree. It is easier to remember a number if the first three letters look like a telephone exchange—ABB for Abbey, for example. If a purely arbitrary selection of letters is made—XYZ, for instance—we are told on expert advice that this is no more easy to remember than three figures.