HC Deb 10 November 1949 vol 469 cc1374-7
14. Mr. Keeling

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the announcement by Lady Meynell, Secretary of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission, that on returning to England after investigating anti-trust action in America she would break up some trusts; and whether he authorised this pre-judging of the issues on which her Commission is deliberating.

17. Mr. William Shepherd

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the pronouncement made in New York by Lady Meynell on the intentions of the Monopoly Commission, and how far this represents Government policy.

Mr. H. Wilson

The Monopolies Commission is an independent statutory body and I am in no way responsible for the actions and statements of members of the Commission's staff. I did, however, consult the Chairman of the Commission about the report of the Secretary's statements which appeared in one newspaper and he informed me that as soon as this report came to the Secretary's attention, she cabled the Chairman that it did not represent what she had said at all. He has since informed me that the Commission have considered this matter and are fully satisfied that the observations attributed to the Secretary are, in fact, a complete misrepresentation.

Mr. Keeling

Yes, but when a statement such as this is attributed in the Press to the chief officer of a statutory tribunal, is not public confidence shaken if either the statement or its authenticity is not promptly repudiated? If it could be repudiated, as the right hon. Gentleman says, why was not that done four weeks ago when the statement was published?

Mr. Wilson

I think the effect of this report is to shake confidence in the newspaper which published it rather than in the Commission. The attitude of the Commission on this question was to await the return of the Secretary so that a full and authoritative statement could be issued.

Mr. Shepherd

Does not the President realise that the country is getting a little tired of these constant repudiations of statements which, in fact, are being made, and what evidence has the President to support the conclusion he has reached that this statement was not made?

Mr. Wilson

I think the remarks of the hon. Gentleman are quite unjustified. I have the word of this ex-civil servant who can be thoroughly relied on. If the hon. Gentleman objects to the large number of withdrawals on complaints of misrepresentation, he might recall that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Bristol (Mr. Stanley) had to complain to "The Times" this morning in this respect.

Mr. Nally

Will my right hon. Friend recognise that the tone of the questions just addressed to him is a clear indication of the intention of the Opposition, if they are ever given the power, to sabotage the work of the Monopolies Commission?

Mr. Basil Nield

Would the right hon. Gentleman say whether his inquiries disclose that this lady denies saying, "I work behind the scenes for political heads. I get stuff ready for campaigns"?

Mr. Wilson

Yes, she has denied that, and also the statement attributed to her that the Monopolies Commission was engaged on "trust busting." The suggestion in this newspaper was obviously nonsense from the start because the whole conception of the work of the Monopolies Commission, as right hon. Gentlemen opposite have said, is not "trust busting" at all but examining the activities of monopolies to see whether they are abusing the powers they hold.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Would not the Minister agree that there are monopolies in this country that need to be broken up—whisky is one of them—and would he not encourage this lady in her alleged desire to do something in this way?

Mr. Wilson

That is another question. I am not prepared to interfere with the activities of the Monopolies Commission which was set up by this House to perform an impartial and quasi-judicial function.

Mr. Ivor Thomas

To clear up any doubt, would the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that he accepts the principle that no member or officer of a tribunal should prejudge a case upon which the tribunal may be called upon to adjudicate?

Mr. Wilson

I was not aware that that doubt needed clearing up. Certainly I should have thought that the attitude of the Monopolies Commission was so well-known that it was not even necessary to say that.

20. Mr. Assheton

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much money has been expended by the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission; and whether he will give an estimate of the amount that is likely to be spent in the future.

Mr. H. Wilson

The money expended by the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission from the date of its appointment in January last to 31st October was approximately £22,500, and the amount likely to be spent in the remaining five months of the current financial year is estimated at £14,000. So far as can be judged at present the Commission estimates that its expenditure in the financial year 1950–51 will be about £43,000.

Mr. Keeling

Can the President of the Board of Trade confirm that some of the expenditure of this Commission, such as the expenses of Lady Meynell, are provided from Marshall Aid funds?

Mr. Wilson

Yes, it is a fact that a substantial part of the expenses of this visit to the United States came out of Marshall Aid funds.