§ MR. MALLET (Plymouth)To ask the Postmaster-General whether it is now in contemplation to revise the provincial tariff of telephone charges; and whether this revision has involved, and is likely to involve in future, a considerable increase in many cases in the cost of telephone messages in this country.
§ (Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The rates of subscription to provincial exchanges of the Post Office have been recently revised on the basis of a measured, rate under which the payment made by each subscriber corresponds with the quantity and quality of the telephone exchange service that he receives. The minimum cost of an exchange line has been increased from £4 10s. to £5 a year. but 500 local calls are now allowed for £5 instead of 480 as under the former rate. The rate charged for local calls in excess of 1,000 per annum has been reduced from Id. to ¾d., and for calls above 2,000 to½d. A cheaper two-party-line service is also given. The unlimited service rate is not now offered to subscribers.