§ MR. LOUGH () Islington, W.To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to a proposal to sell to a private company the municipal telephone property at Tunbridge Wells, which was acquired a short time since under a loan sanctioned by the Local Government Board, and that this step is being taken by a newly elected Council on the grounds that the working of the undertaking has shown a slight loss; and whether, under these circumstances, he is willing to hold a local inquiry so that the exact facts as to the position of the undertaking may be ascertained before the precedent is set up of disposing in this way of public property which has been acquired by means of a Government loan.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) An application has been made to me by a Committee representing ratepayers of Tunbridge Wells to direct a local inquiry into the matter referred to. I have, however, no jurisdiction in regard to the proposed assignment of the telephone undertaking, and any application in connection with the subject should be addressed to the Postmaster General, whose consent to the assignment is required under the licence granted by him to the Town Council. I have informed the Committee accordingly.