§ Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the reduction in the cost of sending messages to and from the Dominions as a result of the introduction of the beam system, and that proposals have been made by cable company interests to take over the control of the beam system; and whether, in view of the importance of cheap communication facilities within the Empire, he will afford the House time for discussion of any such proposals submitted to the Empire Conference on Cable and Wireless Communication?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, until the Imperial Wireless and Cable Conference have submitted their recommendations for consideration by the Governments concerned I am unable to make any statement.