HC Deb 18 April 1905 vol 145 cc447-9
SIR WALTER THORBURN (Peebles and Selkirk)

I beg to ask the Post- master-General if he can state when the Motion to appoint the Select Committee on Telephone Purchase will come up for effective discussion.

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Lord STANLEY,) Lancashire, Westhoughton

I am anxious that the Motion to appoint a Select Committee to consider the Agreement between the Postmaster-General and the National Telephone Company should be agreed to by the House as soon as possible. I had hoped that this matter would be treated as non-controversial, and I still hope that this may be the case. Certain objections as to the constitution of the Committee having been made I at once met the views of those who made the representations and they have expressed themselves as completely satisfied. While there is no necessity to have this Committee at all, still I think it would be found to be for the convenience of the House that they should have the Report of such a Committee before them before they proceed to consider the Agreement in the whole House.

MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)

Did the noble Lord not definitely promise the House that the Agreement should be submitted to the Committee before it was sanctioned by the Government?

LORD STANLEY

No, Sir. I said I thought the best way would be for a Committee to consider it before it came up in the House. All I pledged myself to was that the House should have an opportunity of considering the Agreement before it became effective.

MR. LOUGH

Will the noble Lord bring on the discussion on the appointment of this Committee in Government time so that we may have an opportunity of discussing the constitution of the Committee?

LORD STANLEY

No, Sir. I have met hon. Members who objected to the constitution of the Committee and they have expressed themselves satisfied. If hon. Members do not like it they will not have it.

MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)

Will the noble Lord consider the advisability of putting a Labour Member on the Committee so that the interests of the telephone operators will be properly safeguarded?

LORD STANLEY

No, Sir. I did what was wished by the oldest Labour Member of the House, with whom I conferred with regard to the constitution of the Committee. I do not think I am called upon to do anything further.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

Did the hon. Member in question come to you as a representative of the County Council or as a representative of the Labour group in the House?

LORD STANLEY

He came as a Labour Member of the House.