§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the Postmaster-General the figures on which he bases his estimate that the all-in annual cost of a telephone in this country is £9.17, and the all-in annual cost of a telephone in the United States is £10.97?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe figures mentioned were derived from the annual report of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company for 1928, and from the Post Office Commercial Accounts for 1928–29. The mean number of telephones in the year was:
637W
American Bell system 14,125,000 British Post Office system 1,665,000 Details of the respective costs per telephone are:
American Bell system. Post Office system. £ £ Management and operation 6.48 4.27 Maintenance 2.25 1.72 Depreciation 2.24 3.18 Total 10.97 9.17