§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, in view of the practice of hotels of
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§ Mr. Robert Sheldon,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th February 1978, Vol. 943 c. 419], gave the following answer:
I regret that the information requested is not readily available, since tax receipts in a year include tax paid on income arising in earlier years. However, the following figures, based on estimates of taxes on income arising in the year, may be helpful:
making excessive service charges to their patrons for obtaining telephone calls, in some cases by as much as 100 per cent., and of the details supplied to him where an American was charged £54 for the actual telephone costs of £27, he will take action to prevent this overcharging.
§ Mr. MaclennanI have recently been in touch with the British Hotels, Restaurants and Caterers' Association. It shares my view that it is desirable that, where a surcharge is added to normal Post Office rates, customers should be informed in advance of the rates they will have to pay. The association has recently reminded its members of its recommendation that this information should be readily available.