§ Mr. BOWENasked the Postmaster-General what sums were expended on the provision or extension of postal, telegraph and telephone buildings, respectively, during 1913–14 and each of the past 10 years?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe use of Post Office buildings, or of portions of buildings, by the postal, telegraph and telephone service s constantly changing, and the capital expenditure on Post Office buildings is therefore not divided year by year between the respective services. The capital records show the total expenditure on buildings which, for the years desired, is as follows:—
678W
£ 1913–14 … … … 296,385 1921–22 … … … 607,469 1922–23 … … … 565,914 1923–24 … … … 429,708 1924–25 … … … 855,405 1925–26 … … … 1,103,791 1926–27 … … … 1,105,844 1927–28 … … … 1,268,253 1928–29 … … … 1,237,734 1929–30 … … … 1,390,424 1930–31 … … … 1,336,000 (provisional) The foregoing figures are for buildings only, that is, they exclude the expenditure on land, and on electric lighting, lifts and other accommodation fittings.
§ Mr. BOWENasked the Postmaster-General what was the cost of repairs to and maintenance of postal, telegraph and telephone buildings during 1913–14 and each of the past 10 years?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe total cost of maintenance and repairs, the bulk of which is incurred by the Office of works, is apportioned between the postal, telegraph and telephone services according to their respective occupation of Post Office buildings year by year. The total costs and apportionments for the years, desired are as follow:
— Total. Postal. Telegraph. Telephone. £ £ £ £ 1913–14 263,187 148,311 56,032 58,844 1921–22 354,413 199,918 63,766 90,729 1922–23 293,605 164,578 52,346 76,681 1923–24 269,717 145,186 45,005 79,526 1924–25 303,090 159,413 50,482 93,195 1925–26 373,685 196,451 59,821 117,413 1926–27 309,960 159,203 47,412 103,345 1927–28 356,475 179,823 54,716 121,936 1928–29 344,792 171,850 49,957 122,985 1929–30 396,909 187,979 54,072 154,858 1930–31 427,000 201,000 53,000 173,000 provisional.