§ 13. Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office to make an increased number of transistorised handsets available in telephone boxes at Crown post offices for the benefit of persons with impaired hearing.
§ Mr. ChatawayNo, Sir. This is a matter for the technical judgment of the Post Office.
§ Mr. PavittWould not the right hon. Gentleman use his humanitarian influence to try to persuade the Post Office to do something for deaf people who find themselves in very distressful situations when they cannot communicate with their home? For instance, if at main-line railway stations and some main post offices a transistorised handset was available to enable a deaf person to communicate in difficult circumstances with his home, 1317 that would be a great gesture for those who are hard of hearing.
§ Mr. ChatawayI know that there are serious problems here, and the Post Office is anxious to help. It has 100,000 transistorised handsets in use by private subscribers. But in the case of public telephones there are difficulties still to be overcome in adapting equipment so that it would he suitable for the general public as well as for those who are hard of hearing.