asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in view of the withdrawal of the 6d piece from circulation before February, 1971, he will issue instructions to have all coin boxes converted to take the appropriate new currency rather than the existing 6d piece.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conversion of Coin Boxes.
345.
The conversion of telephone coin boxes to take the new decimal coinage will commence after 14th February, 1971. It cannot be put in hands earlier because the new bronze coins will not be in circulation. Conversion of all coin boxes in the country will take several months to complete. During this period the present sixpenny and penny coins will still be in circulation and they will continue to be required for coin boxes awaiting conversion.
Could the Minister say whether the introduction of the new coinage will lead to a further increase in the cost of such calls? If the new penny is to be used, if that is the Minister's intention, the calls could cost only the equivalent either of 4.8 or 7.2 existing pennies. Could the Minister state whether in those circumstances he intends to reduce the sixpence to 4.8 pence and, if so, why is he now raising the charge to sixpence? Is he going to increase it further to 7.2 pence?
No decision has been taken.
Put it the other way. Will the Minister make provision for the use of a new half-penny in the new coin box to enable the sixpence charge to be maintained or will he, by making no such provision, make it necessary for him to increase the price to 7.2 pence?
We have until February, 1971, to go into that and all those points will be taken into consideration. Certainly I am in no position to state at this stage what the telephone costs or the telephone charges will be in 1971.
Will the Minister not agree he cannot wait until February, 1971, before making provision for the use of the new half-penny? Surely that will be a matter which will require advance design of the boxes for this purpose?
I agree.
Therefore, he must now or in the near future make up his mind as to whether he makes provision in the boxes for the use of the new half-penny or whether by not doing so he makes it necessary to charge either 4.8 or 7.2 pence in which in practice I suggest means charging 7.2 pence.
Not necessarily.
The Minister is prepared to consider the reduction from sixpence to 4.8 pence?
No. This question does not deal with that. It deals with mechanism. No decision has been made at this stage in relation to the telephone charges and the altering of the mechanism but the matter is being very closely and carefully examined in the Department.
Has the Minister closed his mind to making provision for the use of the new halfpenny?
I have closed my mind to nothing.