HC Deb 19 April 1972 vol 835 cc490-1
19. Mr. Golding

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he is yet able to make an announcement on increased telephone charges.

Sir J. Eden

No, Sir. The Post Office Users National Council has not yet completed its consideration of the Post Office proposals.

Mr. Golding

Is the Minister aware of the great importance of not allowing the telephone service to lose its financial viability at the present time? Is he further aware that there is a case for study for increased charges to business subscribers rather than to residential subscribers?

Sir J. Eden

I see no danger of the first point which the hon. Member makes. As for the second point, I think this is more a matter for Post Office initiative.

Mr. Paget

Does the right hon. Gentleman feel that, at a time when the demands for telephones seem to be continually so much in advance of the supply, the Post Office would do much better by trying to increase the number of its customers than by increasing its prices?

Sir J. Eden

I think that this again is mainly a matter for the Post Office, which has to take into account the manufacturing capacity to meet any increase in demand.

Mr. Gregor Mackenzie

Is the Minister aware that the one thing which we in this House or the country are not prepared to accept is any system of rationing by price? While we recognise the need for increased money, we think—I hope that the Minister will consider this—that perhaps the way to do it would be by looking at the prospects of selling more telephones to increase telephone calls. Would the Minister be prepared to examine rather more seriously the notion put forward by his right hon. Friend the Member for Stafford and Stone (Mr. Hugh Fraser) and from this side of the House the last time we discussed this matter that fresh ways of raising the money should be considered?

Sir J. Eden

I think I can certainly reply in the affirmative to the last part of that supplementary question. As to the first part, I am certain we shall see steadily increasing usage of telephones throughout the country.