§ 61. Mr. SHINWELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to whom the 1177 buildings at Renfrew aerodrome have been disposed of; if he can state the purchase price; and whether the sale was effected by private treaty or by public auction.
§ Major BOYD - CARPENTERThe Renfrew aerodrome has not been disposed of. I assume the hon. Member refers to Inchinnan airship station, adjacent to the Renfrew aerodrome. This property was declared surplus in 1920 and since then has been extensively advertised for sale. It was sold in February last to Messrs. Murray McVinnie & Company, the offer of that firm being the highest received. It is not desirable, in the public interest, to disclose the price obtained.
§ Mr. SHINWELLMay I ask why the price which was received for material which was the property of the Government should not be disclosed to Members of this House?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERThe hon. Member has repeatedly asked that as a supplementary question, and I have repeatedly replied that it is not in the public interest to answer it. If the hon. Member will choose one day to come along, I shall be happy to show him why.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs there any reason at all why information which can be divulged to a private Member cannot be disclosed to this House? Surely it is in the interest of the Government itself that information asked for—
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the Minister says it is not in the public interest, we can go no further.
§ Mr. W. THORNEWhat redress have we? Why is it not in the public interest?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf a Minister says it is not, we can only accept the statement.
§ Mr. W. THORNEI would like to ask, Mr. Speaker, whether you have any power to make Ministers do what they are asked to do, in consequence of huge sums of public money being involved?
§ Mr. W. THORNEYou never will be.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI would like to be able to make many Members do what I want.
§ Mr. W. THORNEYou can always make me do what you want.
§ Mr. SHINWELLOn a point of Order. May I say that it is an abuse of the privilege held by Ministers if they are to reply to questions which endeavour to elicit necessary information in the manner indicated?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt has always been understood in the House that the duty of Ministers is to protect the public interest, and if they make that plea, we cannot go any further.