§ 46. Mr. COCKSasked the Prime Minister whether there is any Cabinet rule against Ministers holding shares in armament firms which are contractors to the Government; and, if not, does he propose to make such a rule?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar question which he addressed to me on the 19th December last, to which I can add nothing.
§ Mr. COCKSWill the Prime Minister remember that the previous question did not deal with firms that were contractors to the Government, and that this question is an extension of that question?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am sorry that I disagree with the hon. Member that this question is an extension. The answer which I gave last time referred to armament firms in general. The hon. Member now specifies a certain group of armament firms, and my general answer must therefore refer to the more con fined question.
§ Mr. COCKSIs the right hon. Gentle man aware that at the Arms Inquiry a statement was made that 3, 000 shares in Vickers were held by the Home Secretary, and is it in the public interest that at a time like this private profit should be made by a Cabinet Minister out of the manufacture of arms?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEIs it not true that it is very difficult to give a definition of an armament firm, and that it is possible the Co-operative Society might come under it?