§ 9. Mr. Woofasked the Postmaster-General what preparations his department is making for the conversion of public telephone coin boxes to take decimal coins; what denominations the new boxes will take; and whether contracts for new coin boxes have now been placed.
§ 30. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Postmaster-General what charge he intends to make in a telephone kiosk when sixpenny pieces cease to be minted on the introduclion of decimal currency.
§ Mr. StonehouseAll telephone coin boxes in use in 1971 will be converted to accept coins with the denominations of two and 10 new pence. Contracts have been placed for these changes but a new design of coin box will not be needed.
It is too soon to decide what charges will then apply.
§ Mr. WoofCan my right hon. Friend confirm or deny that suggestions are being made for the new coin boxes to take only two denominations—the new 5d. piece equivalent to 1s. and the new 10d. piece equivalent to 2s.? If the minimum charge of 1s. for a 'phone call from a public coin box is not to be the case, does this mean that telephone call boxes which at present have 6d. as minimum will be altered to take the new 2d. piece?
§ Mr. StonehouseAs I said in my original Answer, coin boxes are being designed for denominations of two and 10 new pence. We are not designing the coin boxes for five new pence. The minimum coin to be used, therefore, will be two new pence, which is equivalent to 4.8 old pence.
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltIs the Postmaster-General aware that as a result of the Government's defeat this morning he will be spared the necessity of choosing between two coins? In those circumstances, will he leave it as it is? If not, can he assure the House that telephone users will not get a much shorter time for the two new pence which he now proposes?
§ Mr. StonehouseIf there was a temporary defeat, it will soon be put right.
§ Mr. MurrayDoes not my right hon. Friend think that the discrepancy between 1896 4.8 old pence and 2s. is rather large for telephone calls? Has he taken note of the statement this week by the Secretary of the Decimal Currency Board on telephone charges?
§ Mr. StonehouseYes, Sir. I think that my hon. Friend is misunderstanding the position. Coin boxes will have a slot for two new pence and a slot for 10 new pence. The minimum coin to be used will be two new pence which is equivalent to 4.8 old pence, which is less than the minimum of 6d. which is now in use.
§ Sir Knox CunninghamWhat will the cost of the conversion be?
§ Mr. StonehouseI have not a detailed answer on that, but I will arrange to obtain the information.