asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in view of the inquiry by the Comptroller and Auditor General regarding discrepancies recorded in telephone (coin box) kiosks between metered calls and the actual amount collected, he will immediately carry out an investigation into the matter.

There has always been some discrepancy between the revenue collected from kiosks and the recorded metered call user due for example to vandalism, the incidence of test calls for which payment is not made and so on. A reconciliation statement was normally prepared quarterly to explain these discrepancies.

As the Deputy may recall, the telephone billing system was seriously disrupted during 1981 and 1982 following the two prolonged strikes in 1978 and 1979. All available staff resources were concentrated on collection of revenue due and dealing with subscriber queries and complaints. As a result, work on reconciling the discrepancies was not attended to and the differences between receipts from kiosks and recorded metered user in those years do not therefore reflect the true position. The standard reconciliation procedures have been fully restored since early this year.

Will the Minister confirm that there is a discrepancy of £1.3 million in 1981 and £1.9 million in 1982 and that the total recorded calls for those years was 5.7 million and 7.6 million while the receipts amounted to £4.4 million and £5.7 million? In view of the discrepancies recorded, the difference between recorded calls and the money collected, does that not prove deficiencies in the meter system in the Department?

There certainly was a problem due to two prolonged strikes. If one was to be critical about this one would point out that the Deputy was in charge of this Department for some time and there were not any great results of his labours there. We are now in a better position to deal with the problem. The Deputy must realise the difficulties that existed.

The Chair should give me some protection on this. The Minister is either unable or unwilling to answer my questions. I asked the Minister if he would confirm the discrepancy between the amount collected and the amount charged to each kiosk.

If the Deputy tables a separate question on that matter I will get him the information.

Has the Minister read details of this in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General?

I am aware of it.

The Minister should study and investigate the matter.

If the Deputy tables a question about this I will get the information for him.