§ Mr. STURROCKasked the Postmaster-General what were the gross receipts from telephone calls, including rentals, in the Metropolitan area during the last year when the flat rate was in operation; what they were during the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what was the aggregate maximum number of lines paid for by subscribers at any one time in each of these periods?
§ Mr. HARTSHORNThe gross receipts from telephone calls, including rentals, in the London telephone area during the year ended 31st March, 1921, the last year in which the flat rate was in operation, were £2,805,000. During the financial year ended 31st March, 1924, the receipts amounted to £4,590,600. At the end of March, 1921, the number of subscribers' lines working was 170,000, and at the end of March, 1924, the number of subscribers' lines was 220,000.