HC Deb 11 March 1948 vol 448 cc1406-7
43. Squadron-Leader Sir Gifford Fox

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why regulations were issued by his department preventing the use of the smallest electric motors at the "Daily Mail" Ideal Home Exhibition; and why the Ministry's stand, No. 78, broke the regulations, and had three electric motors permanently running, although the next door stand, the Petroleum Information Bureau, under private enterprise, was refused the use of electric motors.

Mr. Gaitskell

No regulations were issued by my Department about the use of small electric motors at this Exhibition. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

Sir G. Fox

Is the Minister aware that many exhibitors wanted permission to have electric motors on their stands, and were refused; and that the fact that this stand is the only one that has electric motors working is creating a bad impression and setting a bad example?

Mr. Gaitskell

What the organisers of the Exhibition may do about permitting or not permitting electric motors to be used is not my affair.

Sir G. Fox

Can the Minister say why his stand is the only one that has permission when no one else has got permission?

Mr. Gaitskell

I understand that they regard it as essential to the exhibit.

Sir G. Fox rose

——

Mr. Speaker

We cannot go on arguing this one point.

44. Sir G. Fox

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much was spent on the Ministry's stand, No. 78, at the Ideal Home Exhibition; and why, at 12.30 p.m., on 4th March, no attendant was present to explain the purpose of the stand, which was not apparent.

Mr. Gaitskell

The total cost of this stand was approximately £5,500, of which £2,000 was for site hire and £3,500 for design, construction and erecting. With regard to the second part of the Question, a Commissionaire is always on duty at the stand, and a member of the Ministry's staff is in occasional attendance. I should have thought that the purpose of the exhibit, which is to indicate the relative consumptions of various types of domestic electricity appliance, was made abundantly clear by the explanatory captions.

Sir G. Fox

Is the Minister aware that this is the only stand in the exhibition that does not permanently have an attendant on it?