§ 2.35 p.m.
THE EARL OF DUNDONALDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government why the General Post Office, in their overseas telegram service from London, are unable to provide staff able and authorised to take down a telegram for France in French when equivalent foreign language facilities are available in other European capitals.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, the present arrangements at the London overseas telegraph office do provide for acceptance, by telephone, of telegrams dictated in French or other foreign languages. It is often necessary for callers to spell the words in order to ensure accuracy. Assistance in French is, however, available at most times for callers who are unable to speak English. My right honourable friend's information is that these arangements are regarded as satisfactory by customers generally, and in these circumstances it is not considered that the additional cost of employing linguists at all hours, would be justified.
THE EARL OF DUNDONALDMy Lords, I am most grateful to my noble friend for his reply, but did he say that people who are able to take messages in French are available?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I said that they are normally available. The fact of the matter is that they are normally available during normal working hours on weekdays, and usually up 1274 to 10 p.m. at night and at week-ends. Obviously it is rather more difficult to have them available at all times.