75. Mr. HUTCHISONasked the Postmaster-General what is the present stock of available pedestal-type telephones; whether any further instruments of this pattern are still being manufactured or contracted for; and whether he will give an undertaking that after a certain date all new installations will be supplied with the new type of hand micro-telephones without extra charge?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Graham White)The number of pedestal pattern telephones in stock is 267,000, and no contracts for the supply of additional telephones of this type are being entered into. So long as initial and maintenance costs are higher for the new type, I am unable to give the undertaking suggested by the hon. Member.