§ Mr. Charles Smithasked the Postmaster-General what instructions have been issued by his Department regarding the preparation of local as distinct from area telephone directories; in what circumstances such a directory will be issued to a subscriber in addition to a telephone directory covering the whole area in which the exchanges covered by the local directory is included; what the estimated amount of paper used for local telephone directories will be, and what will be the estimated saving of paper on area directories to be offset against this; and whether he is satisfied that the issue of local telephone directories at the present time is justified.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingShortage of paper supplies is making it increasingly difficult to maintain regular or complete issues of area telephone directories throughout the country. In order to meet this deficiency and to obviate the need for inquiries for telephone numbers, arrangements are being made for the re-issue of certain of the local telephone directories which were published before the war. These directories will be issued to all subscribers in the localities covered by them, but the area directory will be provided on a restricted or less frequent basis. As the scheme is still only in the initial stages it464W is not possible to estimate the amount of paper required for local directories or the saving on area directories to be offset against this. It is clear, however, that only a small quantity of paper will be needed for local directories in comparison with that required for full issues of area directories, and I am satisfied that the issue of local directories at the present time is justified.