HL Deb 30 November 1972 vol 336 cc1408-9

3.17 p.m.

LORD FERRIER

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is a fact or not that, in London, the telephone authority charge full rate for telephone installations at taxi ranks although these are not available for outward calls, and if so whether they regard this as an equitable arrangement.

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, this is a matter for the Post Office, but I can confirm that it charges rental for telephones installed at taxi ranks at the standard business rate.

LORD FERRIER

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Would he agree that any facility that would contribute, or tend to contribute, towards the increased use of public transport in London would be a contribution to solving the traffic problem? Furthermore, is the noble Lord aware that up to eight years ago these facilities were provided free; that the cost of an installation to-day is £26 per annum, and that since there are fifty-three of these installations I work out the cost at something like £2,400 a year?

LORD DENHAM

Yes, my Lords, I am aware of the figures quoted by my noble friend. Even if what my noble friend proposes would contribute to a solution of the traffic problem in London it would not be fair, I think, to ask the Post Office to pay for it. I think it would be a matter for my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Department of the Environment, and my right honourable friend does not consider that providing free telephones would help to solve the traffic problem.

LORD FERRIER

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether, since the instruments operate only one way, half of the rate would not be a more reasonable charge?

LORD DENHAM

My Lords, charges are a matter for the Post Office, but they tell me that the average cost of installing a telephone without outgoing call facilities is little different from that of providing an ordinary telephone. Furthermore, these telephones at taxi ranks are very much exposed to the weather and to vandalism, and the maintenance costs can be higher than normal.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, if the cost of a two-way telephone is virtually the same as for a one-way telephone, why not have two-way telephones?

LORD DENHAM

For two reasons, my Lords. In the first place, it would he very difficult to stop members of the general public from using them, and therefore getting free telephone calls at the expense of the taxi drivers; and secondly, if there were facilities for outgoing calls, every time one wanted to ring up for a taxi the telephone would he engaged.

LORD DAVIES OF LEEK

My Lords, may I congratulate the noble Lord on the instantaneous reply which he "cooked up" to that supplementary Question?