§ Mr. HENNIKER HEATON (Canterbury)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, seeing that the telegraph rate from England to Spain is 4d. per word, and only 2d. per word from England to Germany, will he state when the concession of the Cable Company to Spain will expire; and, if any measures will then be taken for the acquisition of the cable by the British Government, with a view to the reduction of the rate?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonTwo companies have cables between England and Spain, the Direct Spanish and the Eastern. The licence to land the cable of the former company on the shores of this country will expire in 1903, and the licence for the cable of the latter in 1904. It is too soon to say what the action of Her Majesty's Government will be at the time in question. [Hear, hear!"]