HC Deb 23 February 1938 vol 332 cc357-8
53 and 54. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence (1) whether he has any information as to the means by which the terms of the Falmouth Report were in the hands of the German Government prior to its publication in this country;

(2) whether he has any information as to the means whereby a leading banking firm was made aware of the contents of the Falmouth Report six weeks before publication and was thus able to negotiate for the purchase of an option on the Fischer process of extracting oil from coal?

Sir T. Inskip

My attention has been called to allegations appearing in an organ of the Press to the same effect as the allegations contained in the hon. Member's questions. Inquiry was made with a view to testing the allegation contained in the second question, and the result was to show the allegation to be unfounded. All the information I have shows that the allegation in the first question is equally without foundation. In view of the serious statements made in these questions, I invite the hon. Member to give me all the information at his disposal in order that the matter may be throughly investigated.

Mr. Gallacher

Is it not the case that the report to which the Minister refers gives the name of the agent who went from England to discuss with the German Government the setting up of a company in this country subsidiary to the company in Germany?

Sir T. Inskip

The report which has been published speaks for itself. So far as I understand the hon. Member's question, there is no statement in the report which supports in any way the allegation contained in the hon. Member's question.

Mr. Gallacher

Is it not the case that it gives the name of the individual who acted as the agent for the company formed on this side, and who went to Germany about six weeks ago to make a deal? Is the Minister inquiring whether that individual is under observation or not?

Sir T. Inskip

I am entirely at a loss to know what the hon. Member's allegations are with reference to the report. If he will be good enough to give me the grounds on which he has based the allegations contained in his question, I will, as I have said, thoroughly investigate them.