HC Deb 18 November 1926 vol 199 cc1957-8
42. Mr. W. BAKER

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that the market price of the ordinary shares of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company is £6 5s. to-day, as compared with £2 10s. in November, 1923, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to sell the national holding of 5,000,000 shares?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Churchill)

No, Sir.

Mr. BAKER

May I ask whether the right hen. Gentleman has not to thank the late Government for retaining this valuable property in the hands of the nation?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I think questions about the action of the late Conservative Government had better be addressed to those who were members of it.

Mr. JOHNSTON

Can the Chancellor of the Exchequer say whether it is the ease that had the Government agreed to sell out these shares at the price offered in 1923 to the late Conservative Government, the nation would have lost almost £20,000,000?

Mr. SPEAKER

This is not the time for arithmetic lessons.