HC Deb 05 April 1905 vol 144 cc458-9
MR. HENNIKER HEATON

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he can see his way to reduce the present charges for telephone messages, eight shillings for three minutes conversation from London to Paris, to two shillings and sixpence for three minutes conversation over the same line; what is the estimated loss on such a reduction; and whether the line is now fully employed.

LORD STANLEY

The charges for telephonic conversations between London and Paris are fixed by International agreement, and I do not feel able to propose any reduction. The service is necessarily a costly one, owing to the exceptional nature of the land lines and cables required, and the limited amount of traffic which each line will carry. At night conversations for six minutes at the charge of eight shillings are now allowed to regular subscribers, and this arrangement, which may work out at a good deal less than a farthing a word, has been found useful to journalists in both cities. I do not think the demand for conversations is restricted by the present charges, as the lines are fully employed during business hours. If the charge were reduced from eight shillings to two shillings and sixpence per conversation there would therefore, I think, be a proportionate reduction of revenue.

MR. HENNIKER HEATON

Is not a very large profit made at the present rate?

LORD STANLEY

I do not know if it is large, but I believe there has been a profit.