§ 65. Mr. Jenningsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Directorate of Salvage 205 and Recovery are now functioning as dealers in secondhand plant and machinery and commodities of almost every description and issuing circulars at the public expense; and will he now consider closing down this department and save £500,000, the cost as stated in the last Estimates.
§ Mr. BottomleyThe Directorate of Salvage and Recovery do not deal in secondhand plant, machinery or other commodities. The firms belonging to the local industrial salvage groups exchange information through the medium of the monthly regional salvage circular about plant and materials which they have for disposal or may require, but any transactions which follow take place directly between the parties concerned.
§ Mr. JenningsDoes not the hon. Member agree that these people are keeping themselves in a job by advertising, at the public expense, plant and machinery which is under private ownership and has nothing to do with Government control? Will he not further agree that the time has now arrived, in the interest of our economic survival, for the Government and this Department to clear out altogether?
§ Mr. BottomleyThe answer in both cases is "No, Sir."