HC Deb 07 March 1969 vol 779 cc189-90W
Mr. Higgins

asked the Postmaster-General why notices are displayed in Worthing telephone call-boxes stating that the charge for local telephone calls has not been increased, in view of the fact that there has been an increase of 25 per cent.

Mr. Stonehouse

Notices showing the telephone charges introduced from 1st October, 1968, are being displayed in kiosks until a directory with the new charge information is available in the area concerned.

There was no increase in the charges for local calls from kiosks on 1st October but in Worthing the coinboxes are being changed in connection with the conversion of the exchange to automatic working with S.T.D. The minimum charge for a call from an S.T.D. coinbox is 6d.; this is an increase for kiosk users in Worthing and in these special circumstances the notice is misleading. I am grateful to the hon. Member for drawing attention to this matter; the notices have been amended.