§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, if he will state in how many instances during the year 1897 depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank employed the telegraph for the purpose of withdrawing sums not in excess of £2; and will he state the average cost to the depositor of each such withdrawal.
§ MR. HANBURYWithdrawals from the Post Office Savings Bank by telegraph are of two descriptions—(1) those where the telegraph is used for giving notice only, the reply being forwarded by post, and (2) those where the telegraph is used both for giving notice and also for advising payments. The average cost to the depositor in the former case is about 9d. and in the latter about Is. 3d. This information was given to the House on the 28th April last. I am unable to state how many such withdrawals during 1897 were for sums not exceeding £2, nor could the information be compiled without very considerable labour and expense.