51. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the negotiations for the sale of the shares in the Siberian Bank owned by the Government have been conducted by the Treasury direct or whether they have been conducted in whole or in part by the Department of Overseas Trade.
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe negotiations have been mainly conducted by the Treasury, but the Department of Overseas Trade has also been closely concerned, and the two Departments mentioned have been working in close consultation in the matter.
Mr. SCOTTCan the right hon. Gentleman state why the Department of Overseas Trade dropped this matter as soon as it was raised in this House?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware of the fact alleged by my hon. Friend. The Treasury and the Department of Overseas Trade have throughout been in close touch, and I take responsibility for what has been done by the Treasury, but our communications with the Department of Overseas Trade have been maintained all the time.
Mr. SCOTTCan the right hon. Gentleman state whether the Treasury has any number of experts in Russian business upon whom it can rely for the purpose of carrying out this transaction to the best advantage and to secure the best value for the Government?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINWe have no experts in the Treasury who are specially versed in Russian business, but we have taken advice outside the Treasury as well as inside.