HC Deb 30 May 1951 vol 488 cc188-9
4. Mr. Geoffrey Cooper

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation if, in the course of his investigation held recently into the redundancy of two ex-employees who gave information to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, West, when he obtained statements from British Overseas Airways Corporation, and from his Departmental officials, he at the same time took similar detailed statements from the two ex-employees of British Overseas Airways Corporation.

Mr. Beswick

No, Sir.

Mr. Cooper

In view of the fact that my hon. Friend did not obtain information direct from the two ex-employees, as he did from officials of his Department and of the Corporation, can he really stand by his statement made in the House that a reasonable attempt has been made to see that justice has been done; and as an indication of his desire to see fair play in this matter would he set up an independent investigation into the whole thing as distinct from making his Departmental inquiries?

Mr. Beswick

The answer to the second part of the question is "No, Sir," and the answer to the first part is "Yes, Sir."

Mr. Cooper

In view of the extremely unsatisfactory nature of the reply, and as I feel that no real attempt has been made to see that justice has been done in this case, I give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.

Mr. Speaker

The only wording that is correct in these circumstances is: Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I will raise the matter on the Adjournment. I think that I might point that out, because this has often been put wrongly. It is very unfair, supposing an hon. Member makes a lot of charges against a Minister and then says "I will raise the matter on the Adjournment," because the Minister then has no chance of answering the charges. It never has been the practice to do otherwise than say, "Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I will raise the matter on the Adjournment." That is the correct and right way of doing it.

Mr. Beswick

In the circumstances, would it be in order if I were to reply, although it is strictly—

Hon. Members

No.

Mr. Speaker

In view of my Ruling, I think that it would be now in order.

Mr. Beswick

Although it is strictly correct to say that I did not interview these men at the time, I did interview one of the men on the previous occasion, when the hon. Gentleman saw me about this matter. The second man did not wish to put anything before me.