§ MR. A. C. MORTONI beg to ask the Postmaster General whether, before entering into any agreement with the National Telephone Company, he will, in the interest of telephone users and the Municipal Authorities of this country, lay a draft of the proposed Agreement upon the Table of this House?
§ *MR. A. MORLEYSimilar questions were put to me on the 31st ultimo and on the 18th instant, and I must refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave on those occasions.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONThis is a matter of very great importance. May I inquire whether the Agreement will be signed very shortly; and whether it will be placed upon the Table in order to be subject to the approval of Parliament?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI hope it will be signed very shortly. As I have already stated, it will be submitted to Parliament.
§ MR. A. C. MORTONConsidering the importance of this question to the country, and especially to traders, may I ask why Parliament cannot see the 1584 Agreement before it is signed? Why should there be any secrecy in the matter; and might not the Municipal Authorities have an opportunity of laying their case before the right hon. Gentleman?
§ *MR. A. MORLEYThere is no necessity for that, as the position of the Municipal Authority will not be affected by the Agreement. A Committee of the House of Commons has considered the whole subject, and reported that the details ought to be carried out upon the responsibility of the Government of the day, and that the Agreement should be laid before Parliament.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONWill the Agreement be signed almost immediately?
§ MR. A. MORLEYI hope very shortly.