§ 31. Mr. Nigel Fisherasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the large profit made by the Post Office, he will abolish the 15 per cent. surcharge on quarterly rental fees for telephones.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsGreatly increasing costs rule out any possibility of reducing telephone rentals.
§ Mr. FisherAs the Post Office profits on this none too satisfactory monopoly system for last year amounted to some £9 million, does the right hon. Gentleman not consider that at least a part of this might be devoted to the benefit of the subscribers, and that he would be fully justified in reducing his surcharge?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsThings have changed very substantially from what they were last year.
§ Sir H. WilliamsIs it not the case that last year the Chancellor of the Exchequer reported to us in his Financial Statement that there was a cash loss on the Post Office of nearly £10 million?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI believe there was a cash deficit.