§ 38. Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Postmaster-General what would be the cost per telephone to fit all new telephones on the subscriber trunk dialling system with a meter which will readily indicate the charge for each call as it accrues, together with the cumulative total.
§ Mr. BevinsEven on the basis of universal provision, rather than, as at present, provision on request, the cost could not be substantially less than the present rental of £4 a year per telephone.
§ Mr. Stratton MillsDoes my right lion. Friend accept that there would be no great technical difficulty in installing in a telephone some kind of meter? While recognising the advantage of the S.T.D. scheme, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he feels that this would be of some advantage to householders in keeping check of expenditure on the telephone?
§ Mr. BevinsYes, I think it might be advantageous to householders in checking telephone expenditure, but I am bound to say that only about ¼ per cent. of people on S.T.D. have applied for the use of these meters.