Telephone Rentals

HC Deb 25 January 1968 vol 757 cc577-8

38. Mr. Longden

asked the Postmaster-General what proposals he has regarding telephone rentals.

Mr. Edward Short

Post Office charges have been referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. Incomes. I have no statement to make until after the Board has reported. I shall be circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT, in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Howden (Mr. Bryan) today, a copy of the reference to the Board.

Mr. Longden

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that any increase would bear very hardly on the smaller users? For instance, if one has a telephone bill for 120 units per quarter, the cost per call averages 9d. If the charge goes up any more, the cost will be even heavier.

Mr. Short

It is for this very reason that we have to look at the telephone rentals—there are so many small users. At the moment, we are losing £3 or £4 a year on each rental.

Mr. Bryan

Would the right hon. Gentleman tell us the average economic rental of a telephone?

Mr. Short

The hon. Gentleman can do the arithmetic for himself, but the cost of installing a telephone is between £160 and £180, and the telephone must be maintained indefinitely.