HC Deb 22 November 1948 vol 458 cc844-5
10. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

asked the Minister of Supply what reserve was placed on items to be sold by auction at the recent sales of machine tools.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

Reserve prices were placed on certain tools to avoid uneconomic sales. Publication of these prices would prejudice sales at future auctions where similar machines were being offered.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

If there were reserve prices, will the Minister explain why, for instance, 35 highly priced machines, costing £2,000 apiece, required for aeroplane grinding, were sold at Stormy Down at an average price of £50 each?

Mr. Strauss

No, Sir—unless the hon. and gallant Member is prepared to give the details, and then I will look into it.

11. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

asked the Minister of Supply if he is satisfied that the 9,900 machine tools sold to trade purchasers and holding contractors have not been to any great extent subsequently exported.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

Practically all these machine tools were sold with a proviso that they should not be re-sold within 12 months, and, in the case of Lend-Lease tools, export was forbidden for a period of five years after the end of the war with Germany. I have no reason to believe that these conditions of sale have not been observed.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

In view of previous answers Ministers have given that these tools have not been exported, and that the only regulation the Minister has deals with tools for small arms, can the right hon. Gentleman give any guarantee that these tools have not been exported?

Mr. Strauss

I have no evidence that they have been exported, and I understand that there is practically no demand for them.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

How can the right hon. Gentleman have any evidence, since he has no power whatever to see that these tools are not disposed of?

Mr. Strauss

If the hon. and gallant Member has any evidence that the undertaking given by the purchasers of these tools has been broken, I will go into it, but in the absence of such information, I do not propose to take any steps.