§ 50. Mr. Parkerasked the Postmaster-General whether he is prepared to extend the area of 2d. toll calls beyond 12½ miles from Oxford Circus to include such Outer London exchanges as Romford, Ingrebourne, Upminster, and Rainham, where the use of the telephone is hindered by the high cost of the frequent calls to the central areas of London?
§ Major TryonNo, Sir. The charge for a call is based on the radial distance between the exchanges concerned. Thus, the charge for calls to exchanges within 5 miles of the originating exchange is 1d., to those between 5 and 7½ miles away 2d., and to those between 7½ and 12½ miles away 3d., and so on. In addition, subscribers on such exchanges as Romford, Ingrebourne, Upminster and Rainham on the outskirts of London have the advantage that no more than 3d. is charged for calls to all exchanges within 5 miles of Oxford Circus, even though many of these exchanges are more than 12½ miles away from the originating exchange. The areas covered by the respective charges in these cases are less than those applicable to subscribers within the To miles radius, but the latter have to pay a higher rental charge.