§ MR. A. D. PROVAND (Glasgow, Blackfriars)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster-General, if he will grant a return showing the total amount which has been expended on inter town telephone plant and fixtures, beginning with the sum paid to the National Telephone Company when the inter town wires were taken over from that Company by the Post Office; how much are the working expenses; and how much the inter town wires have earned since the date on which they were taken over from the National Telephone Company to 31st December, 1897?
§ MR. HANBURYI can at once give the hon. Member the information he de- 472 sires in regard to the capital expenditure and the receipts. The capital expenditure—partly estimated—to the 31st December, 1897, was £1,190,000. This sum includes the amount paid to the National Telephone Company. The gross earnings up to the same date amounted to £200,832. The working expenses, being included in those of the telegraph service, cannot be separately stated.