§ 96. Mr. STEWARTasked the Postmaster-General whether he will state the amount of public money invested in the telephone service and the postal telegraph service; and whether, these Departments are annually debited with a certain percentage towards repairs and depreciation?
§ Mr. PEASEThe values at prime cost of the Post Office plant, excluding plant constructed for war purposes, as shown in the latest published Commercial Accounts in Paper No. 11 of this year, were as follows: Telephone Service £34,838,367, Telegraph Service £7,057,266. The accounts show that full allowance is made from revenue for accrued depreciation not covered by the actual expenditure on renewals and maintenance.
§ Mr. STEWARTAs the maintenance of these nationalised services means a levy on poor people who do not use telegrams or telephones, with a view to relieving the country of the burden of finance, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of trying to dispose of these two non-paying monopolies?