§ 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 at the standard rate.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieFor calls from coin boxes 20 per cent. For other calls 23 per cent. from exchanges without STD and 246 per cent. from exchanges with STD. In the last case the charge for a six-minute call was reduced in 1970 and the increase quoted is measured from the reduced rate. The Post Office informs me that less than 11 per cent. of local calls from STD exchanges last as long as six minutes, and the increase in charges for shorter calls from STD exchanges is considerably less than the figure quoted.