§ Mr. BAKERasked the Postmaster-General when the Newcastle-Bergen cable was taken over by the Government; whether he is aware that the staff at Newcastle and at the repeater station at Aberdeen are still under the control of the Great Northern Telegraph Company; and whether he will state why the staff has not been transferred to the establishment of the Post Office?
§ Mr. HARTSHORNThe PeterheadEgersund cable, which connects Newcastle and Bergen, was bought in January, 1911 by the British and Norwegian Governments jointly, and the British end of it is worked on behalf of the Post Office by the Great Northern Telegraph Company. The question of taking over the working has recently been examined, and I am advised that in present circumstances the transfer is inadvisable.