§ 4. Sir P. Robertsasked the Postmaster-General what are the figures for receipts and outgoings, respectively, for the last convenient accounting period for the Sheffield telephone area.
§ Mr. K. ThompsonI regret that I cannot give these figures because accounts in detailed commercial form are not compiled for individual areas. Many costs are, for operational or accountancy reasons, met centrally.
§ Sir P. RobertsIs my hon. Friend aware that in reply to rather similar Questions he said that he could not give the figures to the House because they were misleading? Is he not therefore trying to mislead the House now in not giving the figures? There must be some sort of accounting of telephone costs in Sheffield. I understand that they are very satisfactory. Cannot he now give them to the House?
§ Mr. ThompsonI am sure there is no ill-will in my hon. Friend's suggestion that I am attempting to mislead the House. Such figures as are available are incomplete and, in their present form, would be misleading.