§ 10. Sir Oliver Simmondsasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he receives, at regular intervals, information from the British Overseas Airways Corporation regarding their detailed operational costs.
§ Sir A. SinclairYes, Sir, but the degree of detail usual in peace-time costings is not, of course, practicable in present conditions.
§ Sir O. SimmondsWill my right hon. Friend see that this matter is given closer attention; and is he willing to make the figures, or a summary of them, available to hon. Members?
§ Sir A. SinclairMy hon. Friend will remember that when this Bill was passed through Parliament it was recognised that there was certain information which it was proper that the Corporation should be called upon to render to me, but which could not be made public. The Act says:
The corporation shall, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, make to the Secretary of State a report … containing such information with respect to the proceedings and policy of the corporation as can be made public without detriment to the interests of the undertaking of the corporation.
§ Sir O. SimmondsBut is it not a fact that the question of the efficiency of the Corporation was very much under consideration by the House; and what information does my right hon. Friend propose to give the House?
§ Mr. Austin HopkinsonWill the right hon Gentleman at least inform us of the salaries of those in the higher ranks of the B.O.A.C., and of the names of the people who draw those salaries?
§ Mr. GranvilleWill the right hon. Gentleman agree that the original arrangement was not, in fact, carried out? I understand that the Government have a greater responsibility than was intended; and will the right hon. Gentleman, therefore, give the information which is asked for?
§ Sir A. SinclairThere are certain things which could not be disclosed without detriment to the undertaking. That is a provision of the Act by which I am bound. My hon. Friend the Member for Mossley (Mr. A. Hopkinson) was answered by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Under-Secretary of State last week; and it has always been understood that it is not proper for me to reveal to the House matters which lie strictly within the realm of management, which is a responsibility that Parliament has delegated to the Corporation.
§ Mr. HopkinsonAs Parliament supplies the funds to this Corporation, surely Parliament might know what the salaries are?
§ Sir A. SinclairNo, Sir; there is a general rule governing public corporations of this kind—other corporations in the same way—that these questions of management are reserved to the directors of the corporation, and cannot be discussed in Parliament. Parliament cannot resolve itself into a shareholders' meeting.
§ Sir O. SimmondsIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at an early date.