§ MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether, having regard to the fact that a certain sum is allocated to the Secretary for Scotland each year for the purpose of telegraph extensions in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, he can now state whether he has yet come to any decision as to the advisability of earmarking a portion of the grant so as to provide guarantees for telegraph extensions?
§ MR. HANBURYThe hon. Member I will see, on referring to Class VII. of the Civil Service Estimates for 1897–98, which I was circulated on Saturday, that it is not proposed to ask Parliament to continue; the grant for telegraphs. The taxpayer has already contributed some £10,000 for this purpose in addition to the heavy future charges for maintenance, and, now that the most pressing cases have been disposed of, it is impossible to justify the continuance of this very exceptional boon, which is not shared by the poorer districts elsewhere in the United Kingdom. If the localities whose claims the hon. Member is supporting, cannot themselves guarantee new telegraph extensions in the ordinary way, I may remind the hon. Member that a special grant of £15,000 a year from local taxation moneys has recently been allocated to congested districts purposes in Scotland.
MR. J. McLEOD (Sutherland)asked whether the £15,000 was only the due proportion to the district under the Agricultural Rating Bill?
§ MR. HANBURYThat may be, but it has received £10,000 as well.
§ MR. HANBURYNo; I think not.