§ Mr. Tom Kingasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the percentage increase between 1970 and the present in the cost of a six-minute local call made in the morning between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday to Friday, from an exchange with STD and where the call is not from a coin box.
178W
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieThe Post Office informs me that the price of a six-minute local call between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. has increased by 418 per cent. from July 1970 to the present day. But the charge for a six minute call was reduced in 1970 and the increase quoted is measured from the reduced rate. Over half of the local calls made between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. are shorter than two minutes and the rice for these has risen by 73 per cent. since July 1970.