§ Mr. John Hallasked the Postmaster-General the effect of the simplified system of charges which he introduced on 1st January, 1958.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonThe simplified system greatly enlarged local call areas, thereby converting many trunk calls into 3d. local calls and enabling customers to dial 150 million calls a year which were formerly handled by operators. At the same time the charges for many trunk calls were reduced. These changes, and the subsequent extension of the cheap trunk rates to the period 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Sunday afternoon, have stimulated the use of the telephone. Trunk traffic beyond the new local dialling range has increased by about 20 per cent. in one 135W year. This has required an increase in the operating force despite the greater number of calls dialled by the public.