asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bottomley), as representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the amount of the telephone bill for the House of Commons for the last three months; and how this compares with the last three quarters.
I have been asked to reply.
Telephone bills chargeable to the House of Commons Vote and settled in the three months ended 30 September 1979 amounted to £150,161. For the preceding three quarters the figures were as follows:
| Quarter ended 30 June 1979 | £139,797 |
| Quarter ended 31 March 1979 | £151,800 |
| Quarter ended 31 December 1978 | £150,893 |
As the House of Commons is a major user of the telephone service estimated accounts have been rendered by the Post Office.
The apparent "shortfall" of the June 1979 quarter is probably due to the reduced use of the telephone during the general election period.