§ 3.10 p.m.
§ LORD TEVIOTMy 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 directory inquiries and main post offices are not invariably equipped with the classified directory outside their immediate area.]
§ LORD BOWLESMy Lords, directory inquiries for particular numbers can normally be answered without reference to the classified directories for other areas. Provided space is available, the directories most frequently in demand are held at main post offices.
§ LORD TEVIOTMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply. Is he aware that the Post Office have increased their contract by 300 per cent. in the past three years, and that they now spend £1 million in advertising classified directories? Is it not possible for people to find out the numbers outside their own area?
§ LORD BOWLESMy Lords, yes, it is quite possible. The majority of the inquiries for numbers can be found from directory inquiries, and that is the correct procedure. Not all post offices yet possess these classified directories, but they will have them by the end of the year.
§ LORD TEVIOTMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that it is quite possible and plausible for people to want numbers outside their own area? As the Post Office is spending this enormous amount of money, is it not better to make the classified directory system as effective and efficient as possible?
§ LORD BOWLESMy Lords, I have already answered that question twice. If you telephone directory inquiries and give the name and roughly the part of the country where the person is living, you can be given almost any number.