HC Deb 05 August 1897 vol 52 c389
MR. A. D. PROVAND (Glasgow, Blackfriars)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he can state the amount expended on the Telephone Trunk wires and the amount earned by them from the date they were taken over from the National Telephone Company to the 30th June last?

MR. HANBURY

The capital expenditure (partly estimated) on telephone trunk lines during the period in question was £199,184. The expenses of maintenance cannot be stated. The gross earnings for the same period amounted to £133,514.

MR. PROVAND

asked why the expenses of maintenance could not be stated?

MR. HANBURY

Because the expenses of telephone maintenance are included and cannot be separated from that for telegraph maintenance.

MR. PROVAND

asked whether it would not be possible to lay an annual statement on the subject before the House?

MR. HANBURY

said that he was afraid that that could not be done.