§ 16. Rear-Admiral Morgan-Gilesasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the current average delay in the connection of new telephone extensions.
§ Mr. ChatawayThis is a management matter for the Post Office.
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan-GilesBut could the Minister say what he is doing to help the Post Office in this matter, because I think that a great many hon. Members, on both sides of the House I am sure, get a pretty steady volume of complaints about slowness in connections and extensions?
§ Mr. ChatawayWith telephone extensions, to which my hon. and gallant Friend's Question is addressed, I believe there are no general delays. In the particular case in which he was concerned it was necessary to lay a new cable of a kind in short supply. I gather that the telephones are being installed.
§ Mr. Arthur LewisCould I raise a point of order with you, Mr. Speaker, about this? The Minister has said that this was a matter for the Post Office and, therefore, refused to answer, but if he accepts the Question is he not in fact accepting his responsibility? Could I raise that with you later for you to consider the point? I think it is a matter of substance.
§ Mr. SpeakerTo accept a Question is not a matter for a Minister but for the Table Office, which accepts Questions. How a Minister answers is not the responsibility of the Chair or the Table Office.