§ Mr. FREDERICK WHYTEasked the Postmaster-General whether he has received any communication from the local rating authorities in Scotland urging the necessity of maintaining the contribution of the Post Office telephone undertaking in respect of local rates, at a sum not less than the amount so receivable if the telephones had not been transferred to his Department; and whether he can give an assurance that the Scottish local authorities will not suffer any financial loss under the new regime?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have received communications to this effect from various rating authorities in Scotland. The Government have decided to pay contributions in lieu of rates on premises taken over from the National Telephone Company in the same manner as on other 709W Government buildings, and on lines in accordance with the assessments as they stood on 30th June last.