§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is still negotiating with the National Telephone Company for the purchase of their undertaking; and, if so, when will Members of this House be informed of the proposed terms; and whether the London telephone area will be treated separately.
TH POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Lord STANLEY,) Lancashire, WesthoughtonI am still in negotiation with the National Telephone Company, and the hon. Member will recognise that while the negotia- 1354 tions are still in progress it is undesirable to make any statement as to the nature or terms of the arrangement under discussion. Having regard to the date which we have reached I shall certainly not be in a position to make any communication to the House on this subject before the end of the present session; but if an agreement is arrived at, it shall, as I have already promised, be laid before Parliament before it becomes binding, in order that the House may have an opportunity of considering it.