BT PAYPHONE CLOSURES

Early day motion 1639, tabled 13 September 2004 by Roger Williams (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 59 members.

That this House notes with concern the proposed closure of a significant number of BT payphones throughout the UK, which breaches the Universal Service obligation which BT entered into at the time of privatisation; further notes that these payphones serve vulnerable communities, often in rural areas, where mobile phone coverage is poor or non-existent; expresses deep concern that residents and visitors alike will not have access to emergency services and that delays in repairing faults to landlines leave local residents without any means of communication, often for weeks at a time; recognises that 60 per cent. of all calls to child protection agencies are made from payphones; understands the importance of these payphones to the local economy; and calls upon BT fundamentally to reconsider their proposals.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 26, Labour 21, DUP 3, Scottish National Party 3, Conservative 2, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.