HC Deb 21 June 1948 vol 452 cc919-20
4. Brigadier Rayner

asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that, in connection with the derequisitioning of Bolt Head airfield, although some of the landowners and farmers concerned were offered many hundreds of rolls of Army link tracking due for salvage, for use as fencing in lieu of the original bank fences destroyed, this tracking was subsequently all sold at a price not more than 25s. per roll to a firm in London and that the farmers who seek to purchase what is still left on the airfield are being asked £4 10s. a roll; and whether he will make an inquiry into this matter.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

This material was originally offered to local farmers at 40s. and 50s. a roll, but they did not accept the offer. It was therefore sold to a number of purchasers at prices ranging from 40s. to 60s. a roll; none has been sold at 25s. a roll. There is no control over the price at which the material may be offered for re-sale.

Brigadier Rayner

Would the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiries? Does he realise that I have taken a certain amount of trouble to trace the progress of this tracking? My information is that it was not offered to the farmers who were responsible for that piece of ground, but that it was sold to Iron and Steel Disposal, Limited, Park Lane, London, at 25s. a roll, and that it is now being offered by the Square Grip Reinforcement Co., Bristol, at £4 10s. a roll?

Mr. Strauss

I have made further inquiries. None of it has been sold under 40s. a roll. It has been sold between that price and 60s. There is no control over the re-sale price.

Major Legge-Bourke

Have the other purchasers mentioned in the original answer included farmers in other districts, in view of the great shortage of the stouter types of wire netting?

Mr. Strauss

I do not know exactly who the other purchasers were; there was a large number.

Major Legge-Bourke

Would the right hon. Gentleman make some inquiries?

Brigadier Rayner

If the tracking has been sold at prices ranging from 40s. to 60s. a roll, and is now being sold to farmers at £4 10s., is not that profiteering?

Mr. Strauss

That is profiteering by the industrialists or merchants who bought the rolls. If the hon. and gallant Member is suggesting that I should impose further controls to stop this profiteering, I will consider it.

Mr. Warbey

In pursuance of the Government's policy of limitation of prices and profits, will my right hon. Friend consider the desirability, when disposing of future supplies, of laying down conditions to limit the amount of profit which may be made?

Mr. Strauss

We do that in respect of a whole range of commodities, but if we extended it to other types of commodities, such as this, then the control organisation would be so cumbersome that it would not be worth while.

Sir W. Smithers

That is so now.