§ MR. GRIFFITH BOSCAWEN (Kent, Tunbridge)To ask the Postmaster-General whether, seeing that under the deed transferring the Tunbridge Wells Municipal Telephone undertaking to the National Telephone Company it is provided, inter alia, that any resident within the Tunbridge Wells area, shall have the right to an unlimited telephone service for a prepaid rental of £6 per annum, the National Telephone Company is justified in imposing an additional charge of 5s. for stamp duty, and in refusing, where such rental of £6 has been prepaid or tendered, to supply a telephone service until such extra charge of 5s. has also been paid.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) The deed referred to by the hon. Member is an 558 agreement made between the Corporation of Tunbridge Wells and the National Telephone Company, and I am, therefore, not in a position to offer any opinion as to its legal effect.