§ Mr. Montgomeryasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the interruption in telephone billing will necessitate any adjustment to the Post Office's cash limit in 1979–80.
§ Sir Keith JosephThe corporation currently estimates that delayed payments outstanding at 31 March 1980 as a result of the interruption in billing earlier this year will amount to around £400 million. It expects to recover these payments in the first few months of the new financial550W year. The amount involved is at present subject to some uncertainty. I have therefore agreed with the chairman that an appropriate adjustment will need to be made to this year's cash limit when the final figure is known. The cash limit for 1980–81 will also be correspondingly adjusted.