§ 69. Major ARCHER-SHEEasked the Postmaster-General if the Marconi Agreement will be taken before the Recess; and whether, if the discussion is postponed to the autumn, it would be against all precedent for money to be spent upon this contract before it has been sanctioned by Parliament?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)The Prime Minister will make a statement with respect to business, and will then say what course will be taken. As regards the second part of the question, it has never been contemplated that the Government should spend any money under this contract until it had been approved by the House of Commons.
§ 70. Sir HENRY NORMANasked whether the Marconi Company has incurred any expenditure under the contract for Imperial wireless stations in anticipation of the approval of the agreement by this House?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI do not know whether the company have already incurred expenditure for the purposes of the contract. They have certainly not been invited to do so by my Department. It is clearly stated in the contract that it does not become operative until it has been approved by the House of Commons.
§ Sir HENRY NORMANWill the right hon. Gentleman have the contract laid on the Table before the discussion of the whole matter? The contract was signed on the 7th March.
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThere was no contract signed on the 7th March. A letter was merely signed by the Post Office accepting the tender. I will have a copy of that laid.
§ Mr. J. WARDWill the right hon. Gentleman give the prices of the shares of the Marconi Company before the tender was accepted and the prices after it was known that the contract was sealed?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have no concern with the prices of the company's shares either before the tender was accepted or immediately after or now.
Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to lay before the House a list of the company's shareholders?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI have no concern with the company's shareholders.