§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General—(1) whether he can state the annual revenue and expenditure in connection with the telephone service between London and Paris; (2) whether the telephone is used only, or almost exclusively, in business hours, and is idle for 16 hours out of the 24; and, (3) whether he can see his way to make the rate charged 2s. 6d. for three minutes' conversation, instead of 3s. as at present.
§ MR. HANBURYThe Postmaster General regrets that he is not in a position to give the information asked for in the first paragraph. The use of the telephone is by no means restricted to what are commonly called the business hours of the day. The present charge for a conversation of three minutes is 8s., not 3s. It is a subject of international agreement, and the Postmaster General does not see his way at present to propose any reduction.