§ 20. Mr. Channonasked the Postmaster-General when he expects to extend the Post Office telephone service for cars to the London area and the Home Counties.
§ The Postmaster-General (Mr. Reginald Bevins)I cannot yet say. But if, as I hope, the pilot scheme in South Lancashire proves successful, I would plan to extend it to other districts as soon as the necessary transmitting stations can be established.
§ Mr. ChannonWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he would agree that the sooner this can be done in this area the better, because it will fulfil a very urgent need and be very welcome?
§ Mr. BevinsI think we have first to see whether the South Lancashire experiment is a successful one and whether it is economic, but, in the expectation of that, we are making certain preliminary plans for London, the Midlands and West Yorkshire.
§ 22. Mr. Channonasked the Postmaster-General what estimate he has made of the installation cost and the annual fee payable by car owners who wish to install telephones in their cars under the Post Office new scheme.
§ Mr. BevinsThe radio equipment in customers' cars is supplied directly by the manufacturers, and the charge is a matter for the parties concerned. The radio licence fee is £7 10s. a quarter. This is based on the costs met by the Post Office in the construction and maintenance of the radio stations and associated equipment.