HC Deb 07 June 1972 vol 838 cc433-4
9. Mr. Loveridge

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what numbers and what proportion of accounts sent out to customers in the last year for telephone charges are known to have contained errors; and how many of these were discovered through complaints received, and how many were spotted by the corporation itself.

Sir J. Eden

As has already been said in answer to similar Questions, statistics of this kind are for the Post Office to supply and I am sure that the chairman will be glad to help my hon. Friend.

Mr. Loveridge

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for being able to make that reply but I am disappointed that he cannot give the figures. Is he satisfied that the system of internal checking of accounts by the Post Office is adequate for its purpose? Does he accept that the duty to ensure the accuracy of accounts should lie with the corporation rather than with the customer?

Sir J. Eden

If the customer is dissatisfied he can always refer any complaint to the Post Office Users National Council. The Post Office itself is always very willing in any particular case of dispute to make a thorough investigation.