Post Office Users' Councils

Oral Answers to Questions — Posts and Telecommunications – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 22 March 1972.

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Photo of Mr Laurie Pavitt Mr Laurie Pavitt , Willesden West 12:00, 22 March 1972

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will add to the members of the Post Office users' councils one person with experience of the needs of those users with impaired hearing.

Photo of Mr Christopher Chataway Mr Christopher Chataway , Chichester

No, Sir. It would be impracticable to appoint members with experience related to each type of disability that may affect the use of Post Office services, but there are at least two members of the council experienced in the needs of disabled persons generally.

Photo of Mr Laurie Pavitt Mr Laurie Pavitt , Willesden West

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider that reply, in view of the need of 2¼ million deaf people who have special knowledge about the use of the transistorised handsets which the Post Office provides and a special expertise in the question of acoustics and audiology which could be helpful not only to deaf people but to people whose hearing is good?

Photo of Mr Christopher Chataway Mr Christopher Chataway , Chichester

I appreciate that it is extremely important that the users' council should take account, and be in a position to take account, of the needs of people with various types of disability. But I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that it would be impossible to have one representative for each type. However, when making the last appointment to the Post Office Users' National Council, we consulted 22 organisations before appointing a handicapped person who has a wide range of interests in this field.