§ 66. Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Postmaster-General how many subscribers have given up their telephones, to the most recent available date, since the increase in telephone charges operated.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonDuring the period 1st October, 1957, to 30th April, 1959, 450,000 telephones were give up.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsDoes not this indicate that the present charges are really taking the telephone away from people in the lower income groups, to whom the telephone usually was a great convenience? Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend to consider the whole position so that the market for telephones could be increased?
§ Mr. ThompsonOf course, we have to keep telephone rentals at an economic level. I will remind the right hon. 1198 Gentleman of two factors. There are many reasons for giving up the telephone, apart from its cost, and we are installing new telephones at the rate of about 1,000 every day of the week.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsIs the Minister aware that the increase in telephones existing in this country this year will be at the rate of only 3,000? Is this not lower than in any other country of Europe?
§ Mr. ThompsonThe right hon. Gentleman devotes far too much time to reading ex parte statements.