§ MR. J. TULLYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is intended to re-appoint, at the opening of next Session, the Select Committee to inquire into the conditions of the Telephone Service, and of the terms of the licence between the National Telephone Committee and the Post Office Department?
§ * MR. HANBURYI may remind the hon. Member that the reference to the Committee which sat in the last Parliament, was:—
To consider and report whether the provision now made for the Telephone Service is adequate, and whether it is expedient to supplement or improve this provision by the granting of licences to local authorities or otherwise.Without expressing an opinion on a matter which at the present moment would be premature, it is probable that the Government will carry out the recommendation of the late Committee by appointing a Committee in the next Session to consider and report upon the evidence already taken.
§ MR. TULLYWill the right hon. Gentleman consider applications from local authorities in the meantime?
§ * MR. HANBURYI should like that question to be put upon the Paper.