§ 31. Mr. Sorensenasked the Postmaster-General if he will give an assurance that for five years ahead the flat rate charge for telephone calls recently introduced in the London area will not be discarded.
§ Mr. MarplesThe enlarged local call area is an essential first step towards the goal of full automation, described in Cmnd. 303. I am therefore confident that this system has come to stay. But the actual charge for a call within the local call area will need to be reviewed from time to time.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes that mean a review in the direction of lower charges 411 or in the direction of higher charges? Is it not necessary to try to stabilise them for a period?
§ Mr. MarplesThey will be reviewed depending on what it costs to produce a call. I cannot commit any future Postmaster-General.