§ 2. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Lord Privy Seal what disciplinary action he proposes to take against those responsible for the criticisms of policy outlined in Command Paper 8277, Documents relating to Festival Gardens, Limited; to what extent he proposes to surcharge those responsible; and in what amounts.
§ 3 and 5. Mr. Nigel Fisherasked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if he will explain the delay, revealed in the report submitted to him by independent accountants, between the decision to inaugurate the Festival Gardens at Battersea and the setting up of Festival Gardens, Limited to implement the project;
(2) why, in view of the comments by the independent accountants, Messrs. Moores, Carson and Watson, the structure 1153 of the board of Festival Gardens, Limited, did not conform to normal business practice.
§ Mr. StokesThe hon. Members presumably did not realise that these questions were going to be fully debated in the House yesterday and will, I hope, not ask me now to say anything further.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that if such action was taken by the director of a private company, including" Lord Festival," he would be brought up at the Old Bailey and would be sentenced to seven years' imprisonment?
§ Mr. StokesNo doubt the hon. Gentleman will have heard what I said yesterday. This has to do with Festival Gardens, Limited, and it is for the company to make recommendations about the course, to be followed.