HC Deb 15 December 1919 vol 123 cc201-2

In addition to the sums authorised to be issued out of the Consolidated Fund under the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (Acquisition of Capital) Act, 1914, for the purposes of acquiring share or loan capital of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited, the Treasury may, as and when they think fit, issue out of the Consolidated Fund or the growing produce thereof such further sums, not exceeding in the whole two million and fifty thousand pounds, as may be required for the said purpose.

The CHAIRMAN

I have a manuscript Amendment, tendered by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Fife (Mr. Adamson), proposing to deal with the question raised on the Second Reading, namely, the conditions of employment of men in the shale mines in Midlothian, West Lothian, and the county of Lanark. That is quite outside the scope of the Bill, and cannot be dealt with on the Committee stage.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

Lieut.-Colonel Sir J. HOPE

I should like to ask the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether this Clause will give to time Government power of control over the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, and put them in a position to control the administration of that company, and, if they wish, to insist upon the continuation of the Scottish shale mines, and lay down the conditions of employment in those mines?

The CHAIRMAN

That question does not arise on this Clause.

Sir J. HOPE

All I wish to know is whether it will give the Government power to do all that they want?

The CHAIRMAN

The question does not arise here, through it was quite right to raise it on the Second Reading of the Bill.

Sir J HOPE

We are granting these millions. Cannot I ask what return we are going to get?

The CHAIRMAN

I think it will be competent for the hon. Member to do that on the Third Reading, but not on the Committee stage. This is purely the machinery.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clauses 2 (Power for Treasury to Raise Money), 3 (Payment into Exchequer and Application of Dividends on Capital Acquired,) and 4 (Short Title) ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported, without amendment; to be read the third time To-morrow.