§ 28. Mr. Milneasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will introduce legislation to compel the post and telecommunications authorities to consult local residents in regard to the siting of telephone kiosks.
§ Mr. ChatawayNo, Sir. The siting of individual kiosks is a management matter for the Post Office. It consults the highway authority or the planning authority, as the case may be, and I am sure it is fully aware of the need to take local community interests into account.
§ Mr. MilneIn view of that disappointing reply, will the right hon. Gentleman look at the possibility of stronger recommendations being made to the Post Office Corporation on this subject? Is he aware that in Cramlington New Town recently the siting of the telephone kiosk and complaints arising from it were replied to by his Department, which said that it did not matter a great deal anyway because the kiosk would not be used to any great extent? That is a complete negation of planning and something more is needed. When the job is being done, consultation with local people is important.
§ Mr. ChatawayI am surprised that there was a reply from my Department on that matter, but I will certainly pass on the hon. Gentleman's remarks to the Post Office.
§ Mr. MartenIf my right hon. Friend will not introduce legislation, would he give a general direction to the Post Office on this subject? Is he aware that in Banbury the Post Office has sited a kiosk right outside someone's house, and that after the pubs have closed the language of frustrated people trying to use the telephone is disturbing the sleep of the children in the house?
§ Mr. ChatawayIt would not be a suitable matter for general direction, but I am sure that the Post Office will take note of what my hon. Friend says.
§ 39. Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many public telephone kiosks are not in service due to vandalism.
§ 21. Mr. Dykesasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many public telephone kiosks there are by number and per head of the population; and how many kiosks, approximately, are out of action due to vandalism and technical faults compared with the position a year ago.
§ Mr. ChatawayThe information given by the Post Office is that at 31st March, 1970, there were 75,293 kiosks, representing about one for every 735 people in the United Kingdom; roughly 1,100 were out of order due to vandalism compared with roughly 1,000 on 31st March, 1969. No statistics about technical faults are available.
§ Mr. LiptonWhen destroyed telephones or telephone kiosks are being replaced, will the Minister consider the possibility of using a new installation which is more or less vandal-proof? A new design has been conceived, of which he knows something.
§ Mr. ChatawayYes, indeed. The Post Office is making considerable efforts to ensure that kiosks are less vulnerable.