HL Deb 04 May 1948 vol 155 cc600-2

2.36 p.m.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government the question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government, whether they will publish the report made to His Majesty's Government at their request by Dr. H.J. Van der Bijl, head of the South African iron and steel industry, who at the request of His Majesty's Government visited this country two years ago with the object of investigating the iron and steel industry here and who is alleged to have advised His Majesty's Government against the nationalisation of the iron and steel industry and to have given his reason for that advice.]

LORD HENDERSON

My Lords, I have been asked to reply. Dr. H.J. Van der Bijl visited the United Kingdom in the summer of 1946, in connection with an invitation by the United Kingdom Government to become the first Chairman of the Iron and Steel Board. While he was unable, owing to his interests in South Africa, to accept this invitation, the Government had the benefit of consultations with him on the arrangements for the appointment of the Board and various general questions affecting the future operation of the iron and steel industry. But the consultations were not conducted with a view to the publication of a report, and the Government regret that they do not see their way to comply with the noble Viscount's request.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, I must naturally express considerable disappointment with the reply of the Government that they do not propose to publish the report. Evidently it is a useful report, and I wish to ask the Government whether they have so little faith in their own policy that, when they call to aid the advice and counsel of an expert in this subject, they are not prepared to disclose what he says for fear of the result upon the mind of the public. I wish to ask that question quite categorically.

LORD HENDERSON

My Lords, if the noble Viscount will look at my reply tomorrow, I think he will see that there is no justification in it for the suggestions that he has made.

LORD STRABOLGI

May I ask my noble friend whether it is not a fact that the great and successful iron and steel industry, under the leadership of Dr. H.J. Van der Bijl, in South Africa is owned, as to 90 per cent. of its stock, by the South African Government?

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

In reference to the question that has just been asked, may I ask whether the Government know that, whilst what the noble Lord has said is true to a certain extent, there is no obstacle in South Africa to any—

VISCOUNT ADDISON

May I intervene on a point of order? With great respect to the noble Viscount, I must request that, in accordance with traditions and rules of the House, starred questions are not made the subject of debate, even in the form of interrogations.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

On the point of order, I wish to ask this question: Are the Government aware that there is no obstacle to any private individual setting up iron and steel works in South Africa in opposition to the present South African steel industry?

LORD HENDERSON

I do not think that arises out of the question originally put by the noble Viscount.