HC Deb 26 April 1961 vol 639 cc398-9
13. Mr. Lipton

asked the Postmaster-General what additional revenue he expects to obtain from timed local telephone calls.

Mr. Bevins

None, Sir. The system of timing local calls, in areas with S.T.D., was introduced so that the unit charge could be reduced.

Mr. Lipton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the ordinary private subscriber is in for the very big shock of a heavily increased bill when these local calls are charged at the rate of 1d. per minute? Is he aware that the ordinary subscriber will lose much more than he will ever gain under this system?

Mr. Bevins

On the contrary, there is no evidence whatever that this is so in areas where S.T.D. has been introduced. The average level of bill for business and residential subscribers where it is in operation is about 3 per cent. less than it was before the system was introduced.

Sir R. Grimston

Is there any system of warning by pips for timed local calls, as in the case of trunk calls? Is my right hon. Friend aware that otherwise many local telephone subscribers will have a very big shock when they receive their accounts?

Mr. Bevins

There is such a system in the case of local calls from kiosks but not in the case of ordinary residential lines. I realise that there may be some difficulties as this system becomes widespread throughout the country, but in the whole matter of the timing of local calls one has to bear in mind that the advantages of this system are really so overwhelming—

Mr. Lipton

No.

Mr. Bevins

Oh, yes. They are so overwhelming that we should take any fringe disadvantages in our stride and consider what we should do to ameliorate them as we go along.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some people's telephones are almost permanently engaged by long conversations? If this system knocks that out, it will be much welcomed by subscribers.

Mr. Bevins

That is one of those questions where I must be circumspect in what I say.

Mr. W. R. Williams

Is it not time that some subscribers became a little more time-conscious?