§ 21 and 31. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Postmaster-General (1) if he will issue instructions to stop the Dial-a-Disc service in rural areas;
§ (2) if he will take steps to stop the Dial-a-Disc service on the Chesterfield Exchange coming from the rural areas served by that exchange, owing to the increasing difficulties experienced by residents in small rural communities in obtaining a line between 6 p.m. and midnight.
§ Mr. StonehouseNo, Sir. Dial-a-Disc service is only provided where I am satisfied that it will not prejudice other telephone calls. It is popular with many telephone users and the additional revenue helps to offset the loss of unremunerative services, such as rural kiosks.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that because of the popularity of the service in the country areas many cases have been reported to me of the public not being able to have access to the public telephone—often just a single booth in a rural area—between 4 p.m. and midnight in the warmer months?
§ Mr. StonehouseThis has been brought to my attention by the Derbyshire Association of Parish Councils. I have investigated it, but I do not think that the matter is as serious as has been suggested, However, I shall continue to keep the question under review.