HC Deb 17 February 1948 vol 447 cc985-7
46. Sir Waldron Smithers

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that supplementary sums of £47,000,000 and £40,000,000 are required for the Ministry of Food and the Ministry of Transport if he will publish as a White Paper a profit and loss account of the trading accounts of these two Ministries for the calendar year 1947.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)

Arrangements have been made to publish trading and profit and loss accounts covering the trading operations of the Ministry of Food. Publication will commence with the accounts for the financial year 1946–47 which are expected to be presented to Parliament in the near future.

The Ministry of Transport will in due course present to Parliament a White Paper covering the Government control of railways during the calendar year 1947; this will be similar to White Papers published for previous years. It is impracticable to produce a statement of this kind covering shipping operations but the question of publishing trading and profit and loss accounts for such shipping operations as are continuing is under consideration.

Sir W. Smithers

Is the Prime Minister aware that his statement will be received with great satisfaction, because it will show the results of gambling with the taxpayers' money by the various Ministers under his command?

Mr. Speaker

Is that a question? I do not think that it is.

Major Legge-Bourke

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the total Supplementary Estimate for this year to date amounts to £145 million, and in view of the Government's call in the White Paper on prices and wages, will he consider—

Mr. Speaker

What is in the White Paper is not a general statement for supplementary questions.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

The right hon. Gentleman said with regard to the Ministry of Transport's activities, that having a balance sheet and profit and loss account published is under consideration. Will he go so far as to say that he will accept the principle of the desirability of such publication?

The Prime Minister

I did not say that. I said that the Ministry of Transport would, in due course, produce a White Paper about the Government control of railways for the year 1947. I said that it was impracticable to produce a statement of this kind covering shipping operations.

Mr. Nicholson

Is the question of publication in regard to certain limited shipping operations under consideration?

The Prime Minister

I did not say that. I said that the issue of trading and profit and loss accounts for "such shipping operations as are continuing" was under consideration.

Mr. Nicholson

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in principle, he accepts the desirability of that being published?

The Prime Minister

I will see whether it is practicable or not.

Sir W. Smithers

Will the Prime Minister take steps to ensure that all these accounts go before the Public Accounts Committee?