asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the cost of the issue of the 1977 telephone directory; the estimated number of alterations and additions in it as compared with the 1976 issue; and if he has considered the possibility of savings by the issue of directories at intervals longer than one year and the periodic issue of supplements.

The main cost is on the production and printing. This is done under contract to my Department and it would be contrary to established practice in relation to contract matters to disclose information about costs.

The estimated number of alterations and additions in the 1977 directory (parts one and two) will be about 95,000 or over 30 per cent of total entries as compared with 85,000 or again over 30 per cent of total entries in the 1976 issue. It is considered that less frequent issue of the directory would not result in any real economy. In this connection I would refer the Deputy to Volume 286, column 1601, of the Official Report which contains a statement I made on 16th December, 1975, on the same point.