§ Major COLFOXasked the Postmaster-General if he can give an estimate of the increase of revenue that would result if the privilege of free telephone facilities in the House of Commons were withdrawn?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe revenue assessed at the public tariff rate from local calls originated at the House of Commons is about £325 per annum, and this amount is paid over by the House of Commons Vote to the Post Office revenue. I have no means of estimating what proportion of this sum is represented by free calls originated by Members themselves. The decision whether Members should be charged for local calls rests with the House, and not with the Postmaster-General, and it would appear that the possible saving if Members paid for their calls individually would not be great.