§ 54. Mr. THURTLEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the previous business experience of the present nominees of the Government on the board of the Suez Canal Company?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrevious Governments have suggested to the Suez Canal Company the names of the present representatives of His Majesty's Government on the board. Two of them (Mr. H. T. Anstruther and Sir Ian Malcolm) are equipped to be of assistance to the general business of the board by their knowledge of public affairs gained by long service in the House of Commons and in various Departments of Government. The third, Sir John T. Davies, was a member of the Civil Service. The purely shipping and commercial activities of the company, so far as they concern the British Empire and His Majesty's Government as principal shareholders, are carefully watched by the non-official British members, all of them experts in these matters, who are 284 known as the London Committee, of which Lord Inchcape is chairman, and which has access at all times to His Majesty's Government when consultation is necessary.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs it not a fact that Sir John T. Davies, prior to his appointment to this Board, had had no business experience whatever?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThese appointments have not usually been given to persons of specialised expert business experience. but rather to people of general experience, who have Parliamentary or official knowledge of a wide character, derived from other careers in life.
§ Mr. B. SMITHIs it not a fact that the directorate of the Suez Canal has been used for fobbing off political aspirants of the Tory party?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI hardly think that applies.
§ 61. Mr. THURTLEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if the Government have a controlling interest in the capital of the Suez Canal Company?