asked the Postmaster-General whether, with a view to improving the existing standards of telephonic reliability and providing some compensation to subscribers in the event of unsatisfactory service, he will consider the introduction of a system whereby a suitable rebate is given for each occasion on which the telephone of a subscriber is out of order and proves to be unavailable for use when he wishes to make a call?

I have no reason to suppose that the existing standard of reliability of the telephone in this country calls for such an arrangement as my hon. Friend suggests.