§ Mr. HICKSasked the Postmaster-General whether, in order to accelerate 2076W the development of the telephone service, he will consider making a reduction in the charge for rental, so that the advantages of telephone service might be brought within the means of a larger proportion of the population?
§ Sir K. WOODIn view of the relatively small surplus on the telephone account, I regret that a reduction in the rental charges is at present impracticable. During the past 10 years, reductions in telephone rates have been made amounting in the aggregate to over £6,000,000 a year.