§ Sir Patrick Wallasked the Secretary of State for Industry, in view of the fact that British Telecom charges are the highest in the Western world, if he will take steps to ensure that there are no further increases above the target set by the Government.
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§ Mr. ButcherThe setting of charges is the responsibility of the British Telecom board. I sympathise with my hon. Friend's wish that there should be no further increases, but he will have noted that British Telecom's recent proposal is for an average increase from 1 November 1982 of 3.3 per cent. which is fairly modest. Moreover, British Telecom is seeking savings in its running costs of the order of 25 per cent. over the next three years.