§ 3. Mr. Worsleyasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office Corporation to put telephone wires underground in conservation areas and other built-up areas of high quality.
§ Mr. ChatawayNo, Sir; but the Post Office consults conservation bodies and obtains consents from local authorities and others as prescribed in the Telegraph Acts.
§ Mr. WorsleyI appreciate my right hon. Friend's reluctance to give a general direction. Does he appreciate, however, that the Post Office has a much less good record than the electricity boards in this respect? Will he make representations to the Post Office that it should be at least as good as the electricity boards in putting these cables underground?
§ Mr. ChatawayI am sure that the Post Office will take note of what my hon. Friend has said and will be willing to consider any specific instance which he may wish to bring to its attention. I am informed that the Post Office consults conservation bodies and takes its responsibilities in this direction seriously.
§ Mr. GoldingIs the Minister aware that it is important for the Post Office to lay cables underground not only in areas of high quality but in council estates? Is he aware that the Post Office discriminates between areas when deciding whether to erect poles or to lay cables underground?
§ Mr. ChatawayI do not accept what the hon. Gentleman said in the second part of his question. The Post Office clearly accepts that it has a responsibility in, for example, areas of outstanding natural beauty and areas which have a particular conservation value, and it is 383 anxious to bear in mind amenity considerations wherever they operate.