HC Deb 06 April 1927 vol 204 cc2042-3
97. Sir FREDRIC WISE

asked the Postmaster-General the total cost of telegrams and telephones in all the Government Departments in 1926–27 and 1913–14?

The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir William Mitchell-Thomson)

As the answer involves a table of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

I am not in a position to furnish complete figures as regards telegrams sent by Government Departments, because (1) some inland telegrams so sent have been paid for in cash at the time of despatch, and have not been specially recorded, and (2) some foreign telegrams have been handed direct to the cable companies, and have not been dealt with by the Post Office.

Subject to these reservations, the figures are as follow:

1913–14. 1926–27.
£ £
Telegrams:
Inland … … 32,000 38,600*
Telephones:
Imperial … … 23,000 46,500
Foreign … … 74,500 320,000*
*Note.—These figures were inflated at the time of the General Strike.

It is to be observed that between the two periods in question the inland telegraph tariff was increased by about 100 per cent. and the telephone tariff by nearly 50 per cent.