51. Mr. FRED HALLasked if the Marconi agreement was entered into by the Postmaster-General on his own responsibility and not as the result of a decision of the Cabinet as a whole; whether the Committee of Defence were formally consulted with regard thereto; and what practice obtains generally in determining matters of this nature with respect to which individual Ministers may act without reference to their colleagues?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is not the practice to state what matters are brought before the Cabinet. Nor is it usual to say what subjects are discussed at the Committee of Imperial Defence, but in this occasion I may remark that the Committee of Imperial Defence was formally consulted on the matter on 14th December, 1911, and was informed of the course of the negotiations with the Marconi Company. It resolved that the negotiations should be continued. The terms finally agreed were communicated to the Committee of Imperial Defence after the tender had been accepted and to the Cable Landing Rights Committee before acceptance. These facts do not, of course, affect the constitutional responsibility for the agreement, which both my right hon. Friend and the Cabinet accept in full.