HC Deb 05 July 1897 vol 50 cc1116-7
MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)

I beg to ask the Secretary to tine Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state how many telegraph offices have been established under guarantee in the crofting counties of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland within the last three years; and whether any, and, if so, how many of these offices now pay expenses.

The HON. MEMBER

also asked the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, how many telegraph offices have been established without guarantee in the crating counties of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland within the last three years?

*MR. HANBURY

The hon. Member will perhaps allow me to answer the two Questions together. It will take some time to prepare the particulars asked for, but the Postmaster General will be happy to combine the further information with that already promised on the 4th ultimo.

MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state whether £5 per annum is the guarantee usually demanded for the establishment of a money order office when a guarantee is requisite, and whether any money order offices have been established in the Crofting counties of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland under guarantee during the last three years; and, if so, how many; and will he state how many money order offices have been established in these counties during the last three years without guarantee?

MR. HANBURY

The guarantee demanded in the case of money order offices is always £5 per annum, but in future, in view of the arrangements announced in the Budget, the Department will share any deficiency that may accrue with the guarantors, so that the maximum liability under a guarantee will be £2 10s. only. During the last three years ten Money Order Offices have been opened in the Crofting counties of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, nine of which were opened without a guarantee.

MR WEIR

I beg to ask tine Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General (1) whether he is aware that the £1,000, hitherto placed at the disposal of the Secretary for Scotland for providing telegraph extensions in the Highlands and islands of Scotland, has been eliminated from this year's Estimates; and (2) whether, in view Of the difficulty experienced by the people of the Highlands in providing guarantees for telegraph' extensions, will he place himself in communication with the Treasury and the Scottish Office with a view to earmark for guarantees for telegraph extensions in the Highlands a portion of this year's Post Office Telegraph Extension Vote of £18,000, so that extensions may be guaranteed to such places in the Highlands of Scotland, as the Secretary for Scotland may designate?

MR. HANBURY

Yes, Sir; the Postmaster General is aware that the amount referred to is not included in this year's Estimates. The Postmaster General is nut sure that he understands the second paragraph of the hen. Member's Question; but the sum of £18,000 referred to will be available for any extensions in the Highlands for which guarantees may be forthcoming, and extensions on guarantee will, of course, be granted in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, as elsewhere, on the easier terms announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in this year's Budget. There does not in the circumstances appear to be any necessity for the Postmaster General to communicate with the Treasury and Scottish Office on the subject.