§ 7. Mr. John Morrisonasked the Postmaster-General what is the latest total annual telephone, telegraph and postal bill for each of the chief Departments of State.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsThe estimated cost of postal, inland telegraph and inland telephone services to be rendered to each Exchequer Government Department is shown annually in Appendix F to the Post Office Estimates. Bills are not rendered for these services, but credit is taken in bulk in the Post Office Commercial Accounts.
Air-Commodore HarveyBut how can the Departments bring about economies if they do not know what they are paying for?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsThese Estimates are made in conjunction with the Treasury and the Departments concerned.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that civil servants would be more careful in the use of the telephone if the cost of calls was charged to the Department concerned?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsIf the hon. Member will wait for the answer to the next Question, he will see that economy has been achieved.