§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTERMy 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 subscribers on manual telephone exchanges are no longer advised when there is no reply to a number called, and if so whether they will consider telling the public of this change in policy.]
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONNo, my Lords. Subscribers on manual exchanges are still advised if the number called does not reply. There has however been a slight change of procedure. If a call is made to a number on which the caller can hear the ringing tone the operator does not now intervene until after about two minutes, when she tells the caller that there is no reply. If a call is one on which the caller cannot hear the ringing tone, the old procedure still stands and the operator intervenes at frequent intervals to tell the caller what is happening. All emergency calls are supervised throughout. My right honourable friend the Postmaster General does not think this slight change of procedure warrants any general publicity. He considers that callers generally are sufficiently familiar with the significance of the ringing tone. However, if the noble Lord knows of any particular difficulty my right honourable friend will be happy to look into it.
§ LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTERMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him one supplementary ques- 990 tion? Does the new procedure for calls with a ringing tone carry the risk that if the subscriber abandons his call before the operator advises him that there is no reply, he may be charged with that call?
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, ineffective calls are not charged. If there were any doubt, the benefit would be given to the customer.
§ LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTERMy Lords, would the noble Lord consider advising the public of this by including a short slip with the next subscriber's account?
§ LORD HILTON OF UPTONMy Lords, that seems to be something new, and I am not sure whether my right honourable friend has considered it. It seems to me that it would not be very difficult to insert a slip in a telephone account, and I will certainly bring to my right honourable friend's attention the suggestion made by the noble Lord.