HC Deb 30 March 1926 vol 193 cc1816-8
14. Mr. KIRKWOOD

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the announcement, which was made on the eve of the recent by-election in Dumbartonshire, to the effect that the Government had disposed of the old Argyle Motor Works at Alexandria to a firm of manufacturers of artificial silk, was made on the authority of the Government?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)

I have been asked to answer this question. The reply is in the negative

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Arising out of that. very comical answer, is it not the fact that. they put it out at that by-election that an artificial silk manufacturing firm had bought these works, and were going to employ thousands of people who were unemployed in this locality?

Mr. McNEILL

If any such statement a as made, it, was not made on the authority of the Government.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

The fact remains that the present Tory Member for Dumbartonshire was returned on the ground that they were going to find work for the unemployed there.

Mr. SPEAKER

The answer has been given to the question on the Paper, and it; is in the negative—it was not authorised.

Mr. BUCHANAN

But, is the Minister aware that when this statement was made members of the Government were present on the platform, that no denial of that statement was made on their behalf, that. it was left to the constituency to judge that it was a Government pronouncement; and if that be the fact, will not the right hon. Gentleman take up the question again?

Mr. McNEILL

I have no knowledge of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers, but no statement of the sort was made by or authorised by the Government.

Mr. BUCHANAN

But is not the fact that the people of the constituency were led to believe that, through a member of the Government being on the platform, a sufficient reason why further inquiry ought to be made into it?

Mr. KIRKWOOD

On a point of Order. The fact is—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"] The point of Order is that members of the Government were on the platform. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"] You are all getting excited about your honour.

Mr. SPEAKER

That is not a point of Order. Sir Douglas Newton.