§ MR. CHILDERS) (Edinburgh, S.I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the recent announcement, whether he is now able to state the grounds on which the Government have decided not to avail themselves of their right to give notice before the end of the present month to purchase the undertakings of the Telephone Companies?
§ MR. GOSCHENI submit to my right hon. Friend that it would be better to state the full grounds upon which this important decision had been arrived at when the matter could be treated as one of argument rather than one to be answered across the Table of the House. The reasons for the decision are numerous, and I think they will commend themselves to the right hon. Gentleman. It would be a large undertaking to buy up and conduct the whole of the telephone establishments in the United Kingdom, and the Government 675 do not see their way to multiply these undertakings, which must be conducted at very considerable cost. We hold strong views on the subject, and I repeat that it would be better to treat it as one of argument than one of question and answer.
§ *MR. CHILDERSI am inclined to agree to some extent with my right hon. Friend. May I ask him whether he will have any objection to lay Papers on the Table of the House, as we are absolutely without information on the subject?
§ MR. GOSCHENI will consider the point, which is one of great interest, I know.