§ MR. ORR-EWING (Ayr Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the amount of money expended in repairing the damage done by storms to the telegraph system between London and the North during the year 1900 and during the year 1901; and, further, if he can state whether the strengthening of the line to insure it against damage, which has lately been announced, is a new departure, or if it has ever been attempted before.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe amounts expended by the Post Office in repairing the damage caused by storms to the telegraph system between London and the North during the years 1900 and 1901 were £12,930 and £25,542 respectively. The strengthening of the lines is not a new departure. It has been going on for some years; and it is steadily extending as renewals of the plant become necessary.