§ 71. Mr. BAKERasked the Postmaster-General whether he will place a copy of the licence granted to the Great Northern Telegraph Company of Denmark upon the Table of the House, in order that the House may be acquainted with its terms?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Vernon Hartshorn)I do not think that these licences, which are on the point of expiry, are of sufficient general interest to warrant their being laid before Parliament.
§ Mr. BAKERHaving regard to the precedent set by the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor, will he agree that all such licences should become public property so that the decisions of his Department may be scrutinised?
§ Mr. HARTSHORNThe question is not with reference to all similar licences, but with reference to these particular licences, and I have said in relation to them that they expire in the course of the next few months.