§ 42. Dr. Grayasked the Postmaster-General why employees of the local oil industry working in the North Sea are being asked by his Department for unusually large deposits before telephones are installed for their personal use.
§ Mr. Edward ShortBecause of the size of the bad debts run up by some of the oil industry employees living temporarily in East Anglia.
This is not to say that most or even a large number of the oil industry employees there are bad payers. They are not. But they do involve a special risk; and, in the interests of all our customers, we have thought it advisable to ask for special deposits by way of insurance against that risk.
§ Dr. GrayIs my right hon. Friend aware that employees of oil companies stationed in the Lowestoft area have been charged £100 deposit if they are American and £20 if they are British, in addition to the normal charges? Does he not agree that this is excessive?
§ Mr. ShortPerhaps when I tell my hon. Friend that nine of those gentlemen have gone off without paying bills amounting to more than £100 each, my hon. Friend will recognise that we have to take precautions.
§ Mr. BryanAs a matter of interest, may the House know by what authority the Postmaster-General is able to differentiate in the size of deposit from one customer to another?