§ COLONEL IVOR PHILIPPS (Southampton)To ask the Postmaster-General if he can state what is the approximate average initial and annual recurring cost of erecting and maintaining one mile of telephone line in an ordinary country district of England, where no charge is made on account of way leaves, when both posts and wire have to be provided, and when wire only has to be provided and fixed to existing posts; and whether a country subscriber is permitted to pay the initial and annual cost of connecting his house to an exchange in lieu of a fixed charge should he desire to do so.
(Answered by Mr. Sydney Buxton.) The average cost varies according to the local conditions. The principle, like other postal charges, is one of an uniform method of charge and not based on the actual cost of the particular circuit.