HC Deb 08 August 1905 vol 151 cc640-2
MR. BENN (Devonport)

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General what course the Government propose to take with regard to the Report of the Select Committee on the Telephone Agreement. Is there any truth in the statement in the Press that they intend to reject all or some of the recommendations of the Committee?

LORD STANLEY

I must reserve until Wednesday any statement I have to make with regard to the recommendations of the Telephone Committee.

MR. WHITLEY

May I ask what Resolution the Government propose to put before the House to-morrow?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

As the House is aware, the agreement will come automatically into operation at the end of the month unless some Resolution negativing it is passed by the House. In these circumstances I think that the Resolution ought to be one which does negative the arrangement come to between the Government and the companies. My noble friend is of opinion that the Resolution standing in the name of the hon. Member for West Islington should be selected, and I propose to star that Resolution and to take the debate upon it.

MR. BENN

Does the Government mean to propose no Resolution?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Why should we, when it has been arranged that the agreement between the companies and the Government comes into operation at the end of the month?

MR. MCCRAE (Edinburgh, E.)

I understood that the Report of the Committee would come up for discussion according to a pledge given by the Postmaster-General. It seems to me to be irregular to raise the question on an Amendment proposed by a private Member.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Resolution clearly raises all the suggestions made by the Committee.

MR. MCCRAE

But the subject should be brought before the House by the Government itself.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Government are doing all that they were asked to do when they give an opportunity for discussing the recommendations of the Committee.

MR. JOHN REDMOND

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to put down the Motion of the hon. Member for West Islington as the first order to-morrow?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Yes, Sir.

MR. WHITLEY

Does the Government, by starring the Resolution, adopt it with the view of supporting it in the lobby?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

No, Sir.

MR. LYELL

Are we to gather, then, that the Government do not intend to accept the recommendations of the Committee?

LORD STANLEY

I have already stated that the hon. Member must wait till to-morrow. He will then know what the Government proposes.