58. The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr.MALONE:To ask the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether negotiations have taken place between His Majesty's Government and the Communications Company; and when he expects to lay further Papers before the House?
Mr. MALONEOn a point of Order. In putting this question may I ask you, Sir, why this question has been transferred from the Postmaster-General to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and whether all questions in future on this important matter are to be put to the Treasury?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is not a question for me to decide, but for the Minister to whom the question is put, who will, no doubt, inform the hon. Member to which Department questions on this subject should be addressed.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIn answer to the question on the point of Order it has not yet been finally decided which Department is to be answerable to the House on this subject. The Financial Secretary hitherto has been deeply immersed in it, and he is for the time being dealing with it. Unhappily, my hon. Friend is laid up by indisposi- 770 tion and, therefore, I, at the end of the chain, come to the task of answering the hon. Member and I have to say that negotiations consequent on the report of the Imperial Wireless and Cable Conference are now on foot. I cannot say at present when it will be possible to lay papers.
§ 59. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he has yet approved of the two Government directors, one being chairman, for the proposed Communications Company, to which the Government cables and beam wireless systems are to be sold and leased, respectively; if he is in a position to state the names of these gentlemen; and what other directorships, salaried posts, and offices of profit they hold?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLHis Majesty's Government have approved the nomination of Sir Basil Blackett and Lord Clarendon to be the chairman and a director, respectively, of the proposed Communications Company. Sir Basil Blackett is a director of the Bank of England, and Lord Clarendon is chair man of the British Broadcasting Corporation. So far as I am aware, these are the only appointments held by the two gentlemen concerned.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDo I understand, then, that the chairmanship and the directorships of the Communications Company are not considered to be what I may call whole time jobs? Is not the matter in its initial stages so important that, however eminent the chairman, he should give his whole time to the work?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think there are great public advantages in Sir Basil Blackett's services being available for the Bank of England, and I cannot think that there will be any difficulty in reconciling the two duties. With regard to Lord Clarendon, of course, it is perfectly well known that the Government propose that he should discharge the two functions.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs Lord Clarendon to retain also the chairmanship of the British Broadcasting Corporation as well as the directorship of this new great company?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes.
§ Miss WILKINSONAre these life appointments, are they terminable at the will of the Government of the day, or is there any time specified during which these gentlemen should retain their posts?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am sorry the hon. Lady has asked that question because I do not happen to have the information on the subject in my mind. I will ascertain.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs there any understanding that the chairman, Sir Basil Blackett, will accept no further commercial directorships in other private concerns?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not think that question has arisen.
§ Mr. WELLOCKDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that there is a great danger in the Government encouraging duplication of directorships in individual cases?
§ 60. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if His Majesty's Government have approved the nomination of Lord Clarendon to the directorate of the Communications Company; if so, upon what terms he has been appointed; and whether it is the intention that he shall also continue as chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation?
Mr. CHURCHlLLThe answer to the first and last parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, the terms of the appointment will no doubt be the subject of arrangement with the company when constituted.
§ Mr. WELLOCKSeeing that the nomination is on the part of the Communications Company, may I ask whether the Communications Company have their eye on the control of the British Broadcasting Corporation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think that no such deduction would be legitimate.
§ 61. Mr. WELLOCKasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the Communications Company has yet been formed; and when it is proposed to in form this House of its details?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe company referred to has not yet been actually con- 772 stituted but I understand that active preparations are being made with a view to its early formation. The company will no doubt publish details of its constitution in due course.
Mr. MALONECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the position of of the men at present employed by the Post Office has been duly considered, and will he represent to the Postmaster-General, when these negotiations proceed, that the employés at the Beam stations are not represented on the Post Office Whitley Council?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLindicated assent.