76. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government are in a position to accept tenders from persons other than the person with whom they are now negotiating for the sale of the shares owned by the Government in the Siberian Bank?
§ Mr. BALDWINI regret that I cannot add anything to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer's answer on the 27th instant.
Mr. SCOTTDoes the hon. Gentleman state that he is absolutely unable to say whether he is open to receive tenders from any other quarter?
§ Mr. BALDWINWe are always open to receive tenders and are very pleased to do so.
Mr. SCOTTMay I ask how other persons are able to tender if the Chancellor of the Exchequer refuses to say how many shares are held by the Government in this bank or to give any other information with regard to it?
§ Mr. BALDWINWhen negotiations are completed it will no doubt be possible to furnish particulars.
Mr. SCOTTIf persons outside the House are able to get information from the Government, why cannot Members of this House get information from the Government?
§ Mr. BALDWINI do not quite follow the point of the hon. Member. The whole object of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in negotiating is that while negotiations are in progress the facts connected with those negotiations should not be made public. It would prejudice all negotiations to give information to Members in full or in such a way that it would get into the Press and be spread throughout the country.
Mr. SCOTTHow can it prejudice negotiations to state how many shares the Government hold and how many are for sale?
§ Mr. BALDWINIf we made any statement as to that, further details would be asked for. No publication of any details will satisfy my hon. Friend unless he gets the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make a public declaration of facts which he says he cannot give.