§ 7. Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can now give information as to what other firms, if any, applied for and received preferential cable facilities with Spain; and what firms, if any, applied for and were refused the advantages granted to Messrs. Harris and Dixon?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have written to my hon. and gallant Friend regarding this question. The answer is in the negative.
§ General CROFTIf the answer is in the negative, how does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile it with the reply of the Prime Minister, who said that this was not the only firm that had this arrangement, and that the only thing asked was that this firm should be in the same position as other firms dealing with the same class of business?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am afraid we are not at one. My hon. and gallant Friend very courteously sent two names of firms. I inquired with regard to them, and my answer refers to them only.
§ General CROFTCan the right hon. Gentleman state if any firm asked for or received preferential treatment?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am told not, but I will make further inquiry. As I have said, I made my inquiries directly 139 with regard to the two firms which my hon and gallant Friend mentioned to me privately.
Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the firm referred to in the question before the House did receive orders which they were able to carry out in consequence of advantages they had which were not given to competitors; and is he aware that this firm took away from their own competitors orders which otherwise would have gone to them?
§ Mr. WATTWill the right hon. Gentleman call for the balance sheets to see if any benefit arose from the advantage given?
§ Sir R. COOPERIs not the right hon. Gentleman's reply inconsistent with what the Prime Minister said in this House a fortnight ago?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have already tried to make that point clear. I am quite prepared to make further investigations. I was alluding to the investigations in regard to the two particular firms whose names were supplied by my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Sir E. CARSONCan the right hon. Gentleman inform the House, so as to set this matter at rest, whether any firms similarly constituted to Harris and Dixon have been refused privileges conceded to that firm?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am sorry I cannot answer that definitely, but if my right hon. and learned Friend will put down a question I will certainly answer it.