§ MR. A. C. MORTON (Peterborough)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the Local Authorities of this country are desirous of having the draft agreement with the Telephone Companies further considered, he will consent to have the matter referred to a Select Committee for consideration?
§ MR. J. W. BENN (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)asked the Postmaster-General if he would state to the House the facilities he proposed to give to such Municipalities as were prepared to compete with the National Telephone Company by providing a cheaper and more efficient telephone service?
§ MR. A. MORLEYsaid he could not comply without notice. In answer to Mr. Morton the right hon. Gentleman said: I have, as the hon. Member is aware, received during the last few days deputations from the London County Council and the Association of Municipal Corporations on this subject, and I am glad to think that those interviews have removed some of the objections or misapprehensions which were felt as to the effect of the agreement. I may repeat to the hon. Member, as I have already explained to the Deputations, that the agreements merely embody the heads of the arrangement signed by my predecessor in 1892 in accordance with the Report of the Select Committee of this House and with the policy approved by 200 Parliament in the Telegraph Act of that year. In these circumstances the Government do not consider that there would be any advantage in referring the matter to a fresh Committee.
§ MR. A. C. MORTONasked whether the Municipal Corporations, including the London County Council, had not asked that all the agreements should be referred to a Select Committee?
§ MR. A. MORLEYreplied, that the London County Council suggested the reference to a Select Committee. The Association of Municipal Corporations, however, did not make any suggestion of the kind.