40 Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEasked the Postmaster-General—(1) whether he can issue, for the information of Members, the terms on which the existing staffs of the Post Office Beam service are to be transferred to the new Communications Company;
(2) whether it has been decided how many directors there are to be in the new Communications Company; and whether the names of the chairman and one other director have yet been submitted to the Government for approval;
(3) whether he can state the names of the members of the advisory committee to the Communications Company; the terms of their appointment; and particulars of the matters which under the terms of the contract must he referred to them by the Communications Company?
43. Mr. WEDGWOOD SENNasked the Postmaster-General on what terms the Communications Company proposes to grant the use of the company's wireless station for external telephonic services?
§ 44 Mr. WALTER BAKERasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he can state precisely the provisions of the contract with the new Communications Company which ensure Government control of the cable and wireless systems in time of war;
(2) whether he will publish as a White Paper the contract for the lease of the Government Beam wireless system;
(3) whether he can state the precise terms in the contract with the Communications Company by which British control of the constituent companies is guaranteed?
Mr. SAMUELAll these matters are engaging the close attention of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain. The main terms of the arrangement are set out in detail in the White Paper. The Agreements for the purpose of giving effect to these arrangements are now being prepared. But I am nimble to make any statement until terms have been agreed with the companies and, so far as necessary, approved by the Dominion and Colonial Governments concerned. As regards the terms of transfer of the staff I would refer to the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on the Second Reading of the Imperial Telegraphs Bill.
Mr. MALONECan the Financial Secretary give an assurance that before any agreement is signed the staffs will be consulted through the appropriate staffs organisations?
Mr. SAMUELNo, I am unable to give any such assurance. I can only refer the hon. Member to the very full statement made by the Secretary of State for Scotland which deals with this point specifically.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the Financial Secretary aware that the statement of the Secretary of State for Scotland was that the staffs appointments were still under consideration? And is he aware that these questions are only put forward in order that we may have some light on the contract before this House ties its hands by passing the Bill?
Mr. SAMUELI can go no further than the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Mr. BENNMay I ask whether the terms which will be charged by the company for the use of their apparatus by the public for external telephonic services will be set out in the contract?
Mr. SAMUELIf the hon. Member will put down a question on that point, I will endeavour, if it is possible, to give him an answer.
Mr. SAMUELIt is impossible for me to give a reply to that question until the terms of the agreements have been approved by all parties and where necessary by the Dominion Governments concerned.
Mr. BENNI am not asking for the precise terms of the agreement, but whether the charges we shall have to pay to the company will be set out in the contract.
Mr. BENNOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. A contract, we understand, is being made with some persons dealing with Government property and Government, services. We ask the Prime Minister for particulars about it, and he says that the Postmaster-General has made a statement on the subject, and that, moreover, the property concerned is by Statute under the control of the Postmaster-General. May I ask you what course should be pursued by hon. Members who put questions to the Postmaster-General and are unable to get any sort of answer from him, but are merely told by another Department that the matter will be dealt with.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have no power over the answers of Ministers. The only way out of the difficulty is for the hon. Member to put another question down.
Mr. BENNCan you give an assurance —I am asking this with all proper respect —that if we put a question to the Postmaster-General concerning property of which he has charge, we shall get an answer?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member will no doubt get an answer, but, whether it will be one of which he approves, I do not know.
Mr. BENNWith great respect, the point is this: Ministers, we understand, by the practice of this House, are in charge of various Departments, and, I think, I am right, the custom is for the Minister to answer for his own Department. I am asking you whether there is any way by which we can get an answer, satisfactory or unsatisfactory, from the Department concerned?
§ Mr. SPEAKERSurely Ministers have power to depute the matter to the Department most particularly concerned.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYOn a point of Order. May I ask whether it is in order to have a Debate to-day on a subject which we are discussing next Thursday?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member for North Aberdeen (Mr. Benn) was raising a point of Order, and we must deal with that first.
Mr. BENNMay I ask the Prime Minister whether it is his intention to ask the House to take the concluding stages of this Imperial Telegraphs Bill in view of the refusal of the Treasury to give any information concerning the contract?
Mr. MALONEOn a point of Order. In the Telegraphs Act, 1904, it is expressly laid down that no contract shall be made without the approval of this House, and I want to ask what steps hon. Members can take in order to ensure that the terms of that Act, which expressly lays down the privileges of hon. Members of this House, shall be adhered to?
§ Mr. SPEAKERAs far as I understand the answer to the original question, the terms of this contract have not yet been settled, have not yet been agreed upon, between the different parties.
Mr. MALONEMay we take it that you will peruse this contract, and if, in your wisdom, you consider it necessary, that you will take steps to bring it before the notice of the House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is not a matter within my duties.
Mr. BENNMay I submit to you these facts? A contract is being made which we have reason to believe will contain some clauses fixing the charges to be paid by the public for the use of the apparatus which is being transferred. We ask questions, and the Minister gives no answer. Under one of the Standing Orders any telegraph contract involving a public charge must be laid before the House. We have reason to believe that this contract will involve 1016 such a charge, and, therefore, I ask what steps we can take to appeal to you to enforce the Standing Order in the matter?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think if the hon. Member puts the question to the Department exactly as he has put it to me he will get an answer.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is not the terms of the question standing in the hon. Member's name on the Paper.