§ 34. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Supply why the cost of aircraft bought in the U.S.A. for the use of British corporations can be announced, whereas the figures for British-built aircraft are not disclosed.
§ Mr. WilmotI do not think that this would be desirable.
§ Mr. BeswickMay I ask how any Member of this House or any one in the country can properly assess the relative advantages of buying aircraft in America or this country if they are not to know the cost of British aircraft?
§ Mr. WilmotIt is a long established rule that negotiations would be prejudiced by 595 disclosure of prices when contracts with individual firms were made, and I would ask the hon. Gentleman not to press this.
§ Mr. BeswickIt is not a question of a Government contract but the price for an article that a national corporation is paying. Why can we not have this information?
§ Mr. WilmotAs I have explained, it has been felt to be prejudicial to the public interest to disclose the prices of articles purchased from particular firms—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"]—but I am quite willing to look into it.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware that he could get the best built aeroplanes at the cheapest rate if he would set up a factory in Scotland?
§ Mr. Geoffrey CooperCould not my right hon. Friend review the whole question of the issue of statistics and information on the production of civil aircraft so that the matter might receive the natural public interest that it deserves?
§ Mr. WilmotI will certainly look into it, but I must make the reservation that the public interest comes first.