§ 12. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will now issue a general direction to the Post Office to cease its policy of requiring deposits from all telephone subscribers in certain areas in addition to the usual installation charges.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Industry (Mr. Les Huckfield)No, Sir. But I understand that the Post Office is considering this matter in the light of consultations it has held with the Post Office Users' National Council.
§ Mr. AllaunHas not the Post Office Users' National Council protested against this grossly unfair £50 deposit? Is not this blanket discrimination against everyone living in certain working class areas, whether good payers or not, absolutely contrary to our ideas of justice? Will my hon. Friend therefore scrap the scheme, as has already been done in certain areas, such as the Midlands?
§ Mr. HuckfieldI recognise that my hon. Friend has expressed a genuine and continuing concern about this matter, and I note that he has echoed it today. To set this matter in perspective, I should tell him that last year the Post Office had to write off £15 million in unpaid bills after making all efforts to make creditors pay up. Because of that, I think it is right that the Post Office should consider the matter appropriately, but I shall certainly bear in mind what my hon. Friend said.
§ Mr. DurantWill the Minister tell his hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) that if a policy such as that followed by the Hull Post Office were pursued there would be no deposit?
§ Mr. HuckfieldIt is easy to make such comparisons as that. If the hon. Gentleman wants to pay tribute to municipal 1014 enterprise, I hope that he will be joined by others of his hon. Friends.