§ 63. Mr. RENDALLasked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that there is only one tape machine in the House; that that machine is in the Members' Cloak Room and can therefore only be conveniently seen by Members on their way in and 222 out, and that that machine is hired from a news agency which does not furnish reports of speeches and other matters as fully as the machines of other companies; whether the speech of the right hon. Member for Bootle at Ashton did not appear on the tape at all though it was to-be read on the Exchange Telegraph Company's tape machine at most of the clubs on the evening of its delivery; and whether the First Commissioner of Works can see his way to furnish the House, with at least as good a tape machine as that to be found in the Foreign Office and principal clubs, and, if possible, to place it in the Library or in some other central spot?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNThere is only one automatic news recording machine in, the House of Commons. The news supplied is, I am assured, as full and authentic as that supplied by any other agency. On the occasion mentioned by the hon. Member the report of the speech of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bootle was, owing to a delay in transmission which has been the subject of correspondence between the agency and the Postmaster-General, not received until after the House had risen. The machine at present in the House of Lords is identical with the one in the Members' Cloak Room and worked by the same wire.
§ Mr. RENDALLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the speech of the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Austen Chamberlain) about a week ago was also very badly reported, by which inconvenience and distress was caused to Members of the Opposition?
§ Mr. WEDGWOOD BENNI am non aware of that.