§ 47. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Prime Minister whether in view of the refusal of the Post Office to employ the Beam stations or to co-operate in any way with imperial and international communications for oversea telephony, he will appoint an independent committee to investigate and test the comparative efficiency of the imperial and the American systems of wireless telephony?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Postmaster-General has not refused to employ the Beam stations for oversea telephony. On the contrary, this matter is now under consideration by the Government and a Committee of the Cabinet has been appointed to report upon it.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs it not the case that up to now the Imperial Beam system has been neglected, and that an allowance has been made to an American company which is prejudicing the Empire communications very seriously?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am informed that the statements made in the supplementary question are not accurate, 1495 but in any event matters relating to departmental transactions must be addressed to the Department itself.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYI am asking the right hon. Gentleman whether he will not appoint a Committee to go into the whole matter over the head of the Department in view of the serious allegations which have been made?