36. Mr. Andy StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with OFTEL relating to the increase in the number of working telephone boxes since 1987.
§ Mr. RedwoodI meet the Director General of OFTEL from time to time to discuss a wide range of telecommunications issues. I welcome the fact that BT now has approximately 100,000 public telephone boxes compared to 78,000 in 1987, and that 96 per cent. are in working order compared to 77 per cent. in 1987. There are also approximately 5,000 Mercury telephone boxes of which 98 per cent. are in working order.