§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD MOYNEMy 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 whether it is not easier to remember 01 Regent 1234, rather than 01–734 1234, especially since the name of the exchange has a known geographical connotation; and whether, since the dialling operation can be the same whether controlled by letters or numbers, the names of the old London telephone exchanges could not be retained.]
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, while we all regret the disappearance of the old exchange names, this has become unavoidable because of the growth of the telephone system. Many London exchanges already have names which have no recognisable geographical connection, and from 1970 there will not be enough pronounceable three-letter codes left for further expansion. As a mixed numbering system would be confusing, it was decided two years ago to change completely to all-figure numbers: this will also assist the development of international subscriber dialling, since many foreign countries do not have letters on their dials. The all-figure numbering programme will be completed in London by September this year.
§ LORD MOYNEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lady for her reply. Would not the exigencies of S.T.D. or long-distance dialling be met by putting the numerical equivalent of the London telephone exchanges in the local directories? The noble Lady has also men- 418 tioned the difficulty of pronounceable combinations. Could not the number of names be increased by various mnemonic devices, even though they are not geographical? Is it not a fact that "W.D.O." is to be the new "number" of Whitehall? Is it not possible to think of making it "A.D.O." for Whitehall, where we make much ado about many things, including telephones? "A.D.O." is perhaps not a very good example of what I want to suggest—
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)My Lords, it gives me particular pain to interrupt the noble Lord, but could he ask a question, or leave the questions he has already asked where they stand?
§ LORD MOYNEMy Lords, I have left them. Are not the interests of the million or so people who use the telephone daily in London more important than those of the handful of people who want to dial London from, say, San Francisco?
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, with great respect, I feel that the noble Lord has gone beyond the ordinary bounds of the House. May I suggest that he leaves the matter where it is?
§ LORD MOYNEWould the noble Earl allow me to make a graceful quotation? I am at the mercy of the House.
§ THE EARL OF LONGFORDMy Lords, it is not for me to allow, or not to allow, the noble Lord anything. It rests with the House. But my strong opinion is that the House feels that the noble Lord has gone far enough; indeed a little too far.
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I assure the noble Lord that I have every sympathy with him. Perhaps a debate on an Unstarred Question might be useful in this matter. I should like to reply, but because of the enthusiasm of my own colleagues I found it a little difficult to follow the noble Lord's questions. On the question of combinations, I am sure the noble Lord will appreciate that already we have had to move away from purely geographical combinations—for example, in "Viking", "Vigilant" and even "Renown"; and the number combinations will enable one to dial Paris or New York far more easily. I do not 419 know whether the noble Lord is in the habit of dialling Paris, but when I visited the exchanges I saw how simple and straightforward numbering is. I am happy to tell him that the Post Office have evidence which suggests that numbers are actually easier to dial than letters.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy Lords, would the noble Lady give an assurance that the telephone user who continues to dial the name of an exchange when it has been changed to a number will not be told that the line is no longer operating but will be referred to the new number?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSYes, my Lords, I can assure the noble Lord that that will be the code of practice. He may be interested to know that a third of the telephone numbers in London will still be related to the letters, while the other two-thirds will be changed.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, could the noble Lady assure me that this changeover to all-number combinations is not just a further manifestation of the egalitarianism of Her Majesty's Government?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I think that I can safely say that it is not.
§ LORD WILLISMy Lords, while we all welcome the fact that it might be easier to dial New York or Paris, can my noble friend give me an assurance that it will be easier to dial from Tooting to Tottenham?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I am sure that I shall be accused by the noble Lord of being biased in this, but I would suggest that we have a very good telephone service. It is really second to none.
§ SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: Oh!
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSI stand on this. If wrong numbers are obtained through an automatic exchange, as noble Lords who have seen this in operation will know, this is not the fault of the automatic system but invariably the fault of the person dialling.
LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, are Her Majesty's Government aware that if anybody telephones in the dark, as I happen 420 to do a great deal, it is much easier to dial numbers than letters?
THE MARQUESS OF WILLINGDONMy Lords, is the noble Lady aware from her experience that the "jackpot" has already taken to numbers and given up the names?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that contribution. I often feel that we over-emphasise people's inability to remember numbers. I have watched people doing complicated football pool permutations which completely defeat me.
LORD PEDDLEMy Lords, in view of the difficulty the Post Office experience in regard to telephones, has consideration been given to the advisability of the City of Hull taking over the national telephone service?