§ 58. Major GLYNasked the Prime Minister what information the Government have as to the systems of wireless telegraphy that are being set up by other countries to maintain efficient commercial communication with their Colonies and with foreign countries; whether some of these installations are nearing completion and are of the latest design, incorporating many improvements resulting from the research work of recent years; whether the Government are certain that the system to be adopted for use in the British Empire chain scheme will be superior to, or at any rate equal to, that of any other country; and whether the Government are satisfied that ail the most recent ideas held under British patents of proved value have been incorporated in the British Imperial system of wireless communication?
§ Mr. PIKE PEASEI have been asked to answer this question. It presumably refers to the completion of the Oxford and Cairo stations, and not to any larger scheme of Empire communication, concerning which no decision has yet been arrived at. In considering the question of completing the Oxford and Cairo stations, the Government have obtained information as to the systems of long-distance wireless telegraphy in use in other countries, and have received advice from recognised experts both within and outside the Government service. As a result, the Government are satisfied that the stations will be equal, if not superior, to stations of corresponding power in this or any other country, and that they would not be materially, if at all, improved by the incorporation of apparatus covered by British or other patents. The stations will embody the latest naval practice in regard to long-distance wireless telegraphy, which has made important progress during the War. Installations of other design are nearing completion in other countries, but the efficiency of these stations still has to be proved, and the Government are advised that the equipment which they have decided on is at present the best to employ for the two stations in question.