§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Postmaster-General if he will give the annual net profit to the State from the telephone service during the last three years, respectively?
§ Viscount WOLMERI am not quite clear what the hon. Member means by "net profit to the State," but on the assumption that he means the surplus which in a commercial company would be available for payment of interest charges, after providing for maintenance, depreciation and operating costs, the figures are as follow:
£ 1925–26 … 3,713,379 1926–27 … 3,961,735 1927–28 (estimated figure) … 4,200,000
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Postmaster-General whether there is a time limit on local telephone calls?
§ Viscount WOLMERUnder the terms of the telephone agreement, conversations can be terminated after six minutes. In practice, restriction is enforced only when prolonged use of circuits causes inconvenience to other subscribers, or where public call offices are concerned.