§ 56. Sir J. POWERasked the Postmaster-General the net profit or loss on the telephones, on the basis of the commercial accounts, since the service was taken over from the National Telephone Company; and the amount paid to the Post Office by the National Telephone 205 Company by way of royalties during the last three years of the operation of the company?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONFrom the 1st April, 1912, to the 31st March, 1928 (the nearest convenient dates) the aggregate telephone surplus, after providing for maintenance, depreciation and operating costs, but not interest, amounted to £24,591,445. The interest charges for the same period amounted to £27,059,534. In considering these figures it is necessary to bear in mind that application of the post-War tariff was postponed for a considerable time and also that during the past few years reductions of telephone charges have been made amounting in the aggregate to many millions of pounds. The royalties received from the National Telephone Company during the last three years of its operation amounted to £970,000.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not also the fact that many rural districts have been provided with telephones on a non-commercial basis?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONYes.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEIs it not also a fact that not enough rural districts have been provided with telephones?