§ 33 and 34. Mr. C. Hughesasked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) what amount of the total commercial profits of the Post Office of £12,574,425 was accounted for by free services to other Government Departments;
(2) what amount was included in the Commercial Accounts Post Office Telephones profit of £9,936,665 for the year 1950–51, for free services to other Government Departments.
54W
§ Mr. GammansPostal services to other Departments are assessed at cost and telephone services generally at tariff rates. It is not practicable to say how much particular customers or groups of customers contribute to the commercial surplus, but the total credit taken for services to other Government Departments in 1950–51 was £24,015,000, of which £13,006,000 was in respect of telephone services.
§ 60. Mr. Greyasked the Assistant Postmaster-General what check is imposed by the Post Office on the estimates for free services supplied to other Government Departments.
§ Mr. GammansNo check is imposed by the Post Office on the extent to which other Government Departments use Post Office services. The Post Office merely puts a value on these services and takes a credit for them in the commercial accounts.