§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Assistant Postmaster-General when the G.P.O. authorised Cable and Wireless, Limited, to reduce rates for cables to the same level as those charged by the G.P.O. for telegrams to Albania, Algeria, Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, Italy, Roumania, Switzerland, Tunis, U.S.S.R., Vatican City and Yugoslavia; and why the company's applications for permission to reduce rates were previously refused.
§ Mr. BurkeThe Cable and Wireless, Limited, rates for telegrams sent by wireless to the following countries have been the same as those charged by the Post Office since the company was established: Austria, Bulgaria, France, Switzerland, U.S.S.R., Yugoslavia. Cable and Wireless, Limited, traffic to the following countries is routed circuitously over main 2823W route long-distance Empire cables which primarily serve distant countries; and in the circumstances, the company has not been authorised to charge the same rates for European traffic sent via this route as those for traffic sent over the direct Post Office line and wireless routes: Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Italy, Rou-mania, Vatican City. Exceptionally, the company was authorised in January, 1939, to charge the same rates as those charged by the Post Office for traffic to the following countries: Albania, Algeria and Tunis. Owing, however, to conditions arising out of the war, the company's rates to Algeria and Tunis reverted in December, 1940, to their prewar level. Both services to Albania have been suspended since June, 1940.