§ MR. CHARLES SHAW (Stafford)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, seeing that the telephone service attached to the House was free to all the Members of the House from the year 1883 until Friday last, when the Post Office, having taken over the trunk lines, deprived Members of 1048 their privileges in connection therewith, he will explain on what grounds the London and suburban service of telephonic communication is still free, as it is at present?
§ *MR. HANBURYThere is no charge, as I understand, to Members of Parliament for the use of the London local lines, because they remain in the hands of the National Telephone Company, who, no doubt for good reasons, allow such messages to be sent free of charge by Members. The trunk wires are now in the hands of the Government; and, as I stated on the 14th instant, it is not in the power of the Post Office to allow Members of this House to use the telephone trunk wires free of charge; and, if it were, I see no reason why Members should have the privilege of using the telephone free of charge any more than they should use free of charge the Post Office or the Telegraph service.
§ MR. SHAWasked whether the Post Office could not take over the trunk lines subject to existing arrangement, and whether the right hon. Gentleman did not consider that an arrangement drafted for 13 years, which would be greatly to the convenience of the Members of the House, came under that category?
§ *MR. HANBURYNo, Sir, I do not.