§ Mr. Banksasked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his estimate of the percentage decrease in the number of telephone calls made which would have the effect of bringing total income to that of the last financial year before the last introduction of higher charges.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieIt is not practicable to answer the Question except in income terms, because the various tariff changes have affected average revenue per call as well as the number of calls. At prices ruling before the higher call charges introduced on 1st October 1975 it is broadly estimated that inland calls business forecast for the financial year 1975–76 would need to fall, over the whole year, by about 25 per cent. to bring the total calls income for the year down to that for 1974–75. However, in the light of the actual level of calls business for the six months to 30th September, business over the six months October 1975 to March 1976 would need to fall by nearly 50 per cent. for the eventual level of calls income for the year to be no greater than for 1974–75.
If the higher call charges introduced on 1st October 1975 are taken into account, 651W the comparable percentages are of the order of 45 and 70 respectively.