Subscriber Trunk Dialling

HC Deb 08 November 1961 vol 648 cc68-9W

Mr. Bossom

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has assessed the financial results of the new system of Subscriber Trunk Dialling; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Bevins

So far only about 10 per cent, of telephone subscribers have Subscriber Trunk Dialling and I cannot, therefore, make any final assessment of the financial results. The purpose of the new system was to give telephone users the benefits of automatiSation and to encourage them to make greater use of the telephone. Subscribers on S.T.D. are now making nearly 30 per cent. more trunk calls than they did before its introduction. Nevertheless, they are paying for these calls some £2 million a year less than they would have done under the old system.