§ 5. Mr. Molloyasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to introduce special rates for telephone charges for state midwives on 24-hour standby duty.
§ Sir J. EdenNo, Sir. This is a management matter for the Post Office.
§ Mr. MolloyThat is a most discouraging reply, and makes Ebeneza Scrooge seem like Lady Bountiful. Does the right hon. Gentleman understand the magnificent service which British State midwives give to the community as a whole? My investigations show that when they are on stand-by duty and have to be telephoned to rush somewhere to assist in the birth of a child, one of the things which perturbs them is that they cannot afford a telephone. Will the right hon. Gentleman please look at the question again and make a further, more enlightened statement later?
§ Sir J. EdenI was not invited to comment on the quality of the service. That would be more appropriate for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services than for me. The provision of telephones is a matter for the Post Office.