§ Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated adjusted net revenue, surplus, or deficit, on the telegraph and telephone services respectively for the current year?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe financial results of the telegraph and telephone services during the current year depend on so many factors, such as the amount of Government traffic and the progress of demobilisation, that I find it impossible to give any reliable estimate at present. The accounts for 1918–19 are not finally closed, "but it is estimated that the telegraph service will show a deficit of £1,134,000 and the telephone service of £426,000. It is clear, in view of the increased war bonus now payable, that both services must show a considerably larger deficit in the current year.
Colonel BURNasked the Postmaster-General if he will state the amount of the total accrued loss on the telephone services since the year 1869, when they were first nationalised?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHAs the telegraph service was taken over by the State at the end of the year 1869, it is presumed that the hon. Members refers to this service. The total loss on telegraphs on the 31st1720W March, 1918, the date of the last published account, was estimated at £27,220,580. Prior to 1906 the figures for telephone business were included in the telegraph accounts.
Colonel BURNasked the Postmaster-General if he will state the amount which would have been payable by way of royalty by the National Telephone Company in each of the years 1912–13 to 1917–18, inclusive, if the telephone service had not been nationalised?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe amount paid by the National Telephone Company for royalty in respect of the financial year 1910–11, the last complete year, of the company's business, was £340,179. As the telephone service of the company was merged with the Post Office telephone service on the 1st January, 1912, and no separate accounts have since been kept of the two systems, it is impracticable to state what amount should have been payable for royalty in the years 1912–13 to 1917–18 if the company's service had not been absorbed by the Post Office.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that demands for telephones, the necessity for which is fully recognised by the Telephone Department themselves, cannot be installed into city offices owing to lack of accommodation at the exchanges; whether he is aware that this state of affairs is hampering business generally and not giving a fair chance to those who have fought for their country and are now again installing themselves in offices; and, if so, what steps are being taken to remedy this matter?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 29th ultimo to the hon. Member for Southwark.