HC Deb 07 August 1940 vol 364 cc207-10
55. Mr. E. Smith

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been directed to the proceedings of the Ninety-first General Meeting of Richard Thomas and Company; and will he take steps to have an inquiry held into the past two years and the present management of Richard Thomas and Company?

56. Mr. James Griffiths

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that the proceedings at the annual meeting of the firm of Richard Thomas and Company have caused concern among the people in the areas where the firm operate; and whether he will consider the desirability of holding an inquiry into the conduct of the affairs of this firm and into the effect of recent changes in the firm upon the communities affected?

57. Mr. Bevan

asked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at the annual meeting of Richard Thomas and Company; and, as the statements made by Sir William Firth at that meeting have a direct bearing on the public interest and on the nation's war effort, will he cause an inquiry to be made into the management, finance and control of the company?

58. Mr. Parker

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that considerable disquiet has been caused by the disclosures at the annual general meeting of Richard Thomas and Company, Limited, in connection with the dismissal of Sir William Firth; that this is likely to interfere with production in the steel industry; and whether he will either directly, or in conjunction with the Board of Trade, set up a committee of investigation into the charges made?

Mr. H. Morrison

I am satisfied that under the existing arrangements of control of the steel industry the productive resources of the company are being used in a way to give the greatest help to our war effort, and in these circumstances I am not, as Minister of Supply, concerned with disputes as to the internal affairs of the company.

Mr. E. Smith

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the nation is getting the production from this factory and its associated steel works that it should get, and, if not, will he consult his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in order that the nation may get the production it should get from a plant of this description?

Mr. Morrison

I have made specific inquiries on that point and sought assurances, and, as my answer indicates, I am satisfied that the resources of the company are being used in a way to give the greatest help in the war effort. I have read the proceedings of the shareholders' meeting, and it seems to me to be an internal dispute between certain people in a limited liability company.

Mr. Smith

But it is bound to affect production.

Mr. Morrison

I am sorry I cannot go on pursuing disputes in the capitalist world. My business is the production of munitions of war, and that is the only question with which I am concerned. I do not see my way to interfere or intervene in this very interesting dispute. It is a dispute in the field of economic activity in which, as such, neither my hon. Friend nor I am particularly interested.

Mr. Bevan

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that a concern in which the Bank of England, a quasi-public authority, has a controlling interest is a private squabble in a capitalist concern? Is not the public interest involved in what the Bank of England does in this matter? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his advisers have advised him wrongly and that there is a considerable amount of plant belonging to this company which is not being used, and will—

Mr. Speaker

That is rather a lengthy question.

Mr. Bevan

May I have an answer?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member should put a more reasonable question.

Mr. Morrison

With regard to the Bank of England, my hon. Friend and I could have an interesting discussion about that famous institution, but if it is to be dealt with in its operations, I am sorry that it does not yet come within the sphere of operations of the Minister of Supply. If there is to be an argument about the Bank of England, it must be with the Treasury and not with me.

Mr. J. Griffiths

While appreciating that the private quarrels of people are no concern of my right hon. Friend, may I ask him to make another investigation as to the effect of this quarrel on the many thousands of men who are employed on these plants? Is he aware that this disgraceful quarrel has caused an immense amount of concern among the workers about their work in the future, and will he hold an inquiry in order to allay public misgivings?

Mr. Granville

Does not my right hon. Friend think that from the point of view of war production this concern should be run by an industrial executive rather than by Mr. Montagu Norman?

Mr. Morrison

It would be a great thing if all concerns were run by industrial executives. I am all in favour of it, but that is not the issue before me. The question concerns the merits of this particular case, and if it is suggested that I should divert my energies as Minister of Supply from considerations of production into this field of private argument, quite honestly I do not think it is my duty to do so.

Mr. Bevan

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.