§ 57. Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Postmaster-General what exchanges in Northern Ireland will be provided with Subscriber Trunk Dialling during the next two years.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterI plan to introduce STD at 13 exchanges in Northern Ireland during the next two years, as follows:
Telephone exchanges in Northern Ireland to be provided with STD during 1965 and 1966 are: Holywood. Comber. Greyabbey. Ahoghill. Garvagh. Kilrea. Lisburn. Draperstown. Maghera. Enniskillen. Brookhall. Donaghadee. Newtownards.
§ 59. Sir B. Jannerasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the subscriber trunk dialling trunk calls are causing individuals and industry increases in cost; and whether, although subscriber dialled trunk calls are now automatic, he will institute a new system of indicating to subscribers that certain periods of time have elapsed.
§ Mr. BennTo introduce a timing signal on dialled trunk calls would be very expensive, would materially increase the costs of such calls and would be incompatible with the STD charging system which is based on 2d. units. In any case, the rate of charge for dialled calls from STD exchanges is cheaper, and last year STD subscribers paid £13 million less for their calls than they would have paid under the old system. Any increase of subscribers' costs is more likely to be due to increased use of the service as the number of trunk calls is currently growing at the rate of 16 per cent. a year.