§ 23. Mr. Longdenasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office that it should warn private individual subscribers when outstanding telephone bills have passed a sum of £100 arising from overseas calls.
§ Mr. ChatawayNo, Sir. A general direction would not be appropriate.
§ Mr. LongdenIs my right hon. Friend aware that one of my constituents, whose telephone was used without his knowledge for overseas calls over a period of only six months, found himself liable for a bill of £4,000? Considering that telephones are cut off right, left and centre for only a few pounds of debt, is it not disgraceful that this subscriber was allowed to amass that bill?
§ Mr. ChatawayI am aware of the very tragic case to which my hon. Friend has referred, and the Post Office, I am sure, will take note of what he has had to say. There is always the possibility for users who expect to run up large bills to be billed monthly, rather than on the present arrangement.
§ Mr. LongdenAlthough my right hon. Friend's reply is not wholly unsatisfactory, I may seek leave to raise the matter on the Adjournment.