§ 61. Mr. W. BAKERasked the Postmaster-General what wireless licences have been granted by Great Britain to members of the international wireless combine known as the Commercial Radio International Committee?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Hartshorn)No formal licence has been granted by Great Britain to any member of the Commercial Radio International Committee, but provisional permits have been given to the Marconi Company for communication with Austria, France, Spain, Switzerland, Canada and the United States.
§ Mr. BAKERCan the right hon. Gentleman say how long these provisional licences will be in operation?
§ 62. Mr. W. BAKERasked the Postmaster-General what are the companies forming the international wireless combine known as the Commercial Radio International Committee, together with the number of companies in which each of the combine companies has an interest?
§ Mr. HARTSHORNThe companies forming the so-called Commercial Radio International Committee are the Marconi Company, the Radio Corporation of America, the Wireless Telegraph Company (Compagnie Générate de T.S.F.) of France and the Wireless Telegraph Company (Gesellschaft für Drahtlose Telegraphie) of Germany.
Precise information is not available as to the number of companies in which each of the combine companies has an interest, but it is understood that the numbers are roughly as follow:—
The Marconi Company about 20 The Radio Corporation about 9 The French Company about 12 The German Company about 15
§ Mr. BAKERHaving regard to the immense importance of the possession of exact information on this subject, will the right hon. Gentleman obtain full information in regard to these interests?
§ Sir F. WISEHas not the Marconi Company an interest in the Radio Company?
§ Mr. HARTSHORNYes: I have said so. I will endeavour to get more complete information.