asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the current level of debt in respect of unpaid post office telephone accounts; how this compares with the figures for June 1978, January 1979 and June 1979; and what effect he estimates these debts had on the public sector borrowing requirement at each date.

I understand from the Post Office that the estimated amounts owed to it in respect of telephone services were £200 million in June 1978; £200 million in January 1979; £600 million in June 1979 and £800 million in January 1980. On the basis that the position in June 1978 and January 1979 was normal, the addition to the PSBR attributable to the billing dispute was £380 million in June 1979 and £580 million in January 1980.