HC Deb 06 November 1946 vol 428 cc1390-2
57. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Food when he will be in a position to furnish information concerning Government purchases of wine, in accordance with his recent promise.

Mr. Strachey

I have written to the hon. Member regarding this matter. Since July, 1945, the Ministry has purchased 1,900 tons of Algerian wine and 300 tons of Italian wine. It is not in the public interest that I should disclose the cost price of these wines or furnish an estimate of the profit that may eventually accrue when the transactions are completed.

Sir W. Smithers

Can the Minister give any previous cases where a promise was made across the Floor of the House, and that that promise was hidden behind a letter? How many times before have Ministers broken their word?

Mr. Strachey

I cannot possibly agree that there was any breach of any promise here.

Sir W. Smithers

On a point of Order. The right hon. Gentleman said that there was no breach of any promise. Yet he said: I am having this information extracted and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 2nd August, 1946; Vol. 426, C. 300.]

Mr. Strachey

I had certain information extracted, some of which I gave the hon. Member in the letter, and some of which I have put down in the answer to this Question.

Sir W. Smithers

The right hon. Gentleman broke his promise.

Mr. Strachey

Nonsense.

Mr. Eden

Whatever reason there may be for secrecy in State dealing with wheat, what in the world can the reason be for secrecy in respect of wine?

Mr. Strachey

If we give the cost of particular transactions, the prices paid for particular lots of wines in the opinion of the eminent businessmen—

Sir W. Smithers

Rot.

Mr. Strachey

Well, of course, my view of businessmen may be different from the hon. Member's. But we usually hear from that side of the House eulogies of these negotiators; and, as a matter of fact, I think they are extremely able men. Their view is that if this information, whether about wheat or about wine or about other commodities, is disclosed to the House their hands will be hampered; and whether that is true or not, so long as they even feel that, so long as they feel that their transactions will be hampered—

Hon. Members

Speech.

Mr. Strachey

I have been pressed on this matter a great deal, and I am going to give an explanation. So long as they feel that their transactions and their work on behalf of the nation would be hampered by the disclosure of these figures, I am not going to disclose them.

Mr. Eden

I want to be clear what the position is. If the Government are going to continue trading in wine, surely they are not going to refuse to give the House or the nation any information as to the result of that trading?

Mr. Strachey

Certainly, Sir, and the House can, of course—and does—through the Public Accounts Committee take the most exacting account of every one of these transactions down to the last penny, and that is the proper place for doing so.

Viscount Hinchinǵbrooke

Is it the case that the more the Government do the less the public knows?

Mr. J. Hudson

Is not one of the main reasons why secrecy should be regarded in this matter that we ought not to know whether we are using up good currency to buy an article of no particular necessity?

Sir W. Smithers

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter again on the Adjournment.