§ 66. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Postmaster-General whether, when reorganising the telephone service for Outer London, he will take steps to ensure that 2728 the existing arrangements of regular subscribers should not be diminished or made more expensive?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHEver effort is made to avoid disturbing existing arrangements, but when such disturbance is unavoidable, I am compelled to maintain the principle that all subscribers on the same Exchange roust be treated on the same basis.
§ Mr. SMITHERSIs the hon. Gentleman aware that certain subscribers in my district of Kent are being asked to pay —24 a year more for the mere privilege of continuing existing arrangements?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe subscribers referred to have hitherto beer, in a. very privileged position. They hate been outside the 10–mile radius, and yet they have paid for calls on the same scale of charges as those inside. They are now asked to go on to an exchange where they will lose that privilege. They must pay the proper sum.
§ Mr. SMITHERSWould it not be cheaper to continue the existing arrangements in their case and only put new subscribers on to the exchange outside the area?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThat would put a small group of subscribers in a position superior to all other subscribers in the United Kingdom.