§ Mr. John Harveyasked the Postmaster-General what has been the percentage increase in the cost of producing the London telephone directories between 1962 and 1st January, 1966; and what has been the percentage increase in advertising space, advertising charges and 79W advertising revenue in respect of these directories over the same period.
§ Mr. BennThe London Postal Area telephone directory comprises four books issued over a 15 months' cycle. Since 1962 the cost of producing a complete new edition has increased by 19 per cent. to £665,000. During the same period the number of copies of each book distributed has increased by 17.5 per cent. to nearly 1.5 million and the average number of pages in each book has risen by 3.5 per cent. to nearly 700. Advertising charges remained unchanged until May, 1965, when the advertising contractor increased his charges by 120 per cent. The charge for a standard ⅔"×3 columns advertisement appearing in the 1.5 million copies of a book for its 15 months' currency is now £75. I cannot yet give any information about the effect of the new charges on the revenue from advertisements, but the total value of the advertisements sold in the last complete edition before May, 1965, was £115,000. Even at the new rates, charges compare very favourably with alternative media.