HC Deb 02 March 1953 vol 512 cc7-9
8. Sir E. Keeling

asked the Attorney-General whether he has completed his inquiries into the allegations against certain furnishing stores; and whether he has found any grounds for taking proceedings.

The Attorney-General

I have received a very full report on this matter from the Director of Public Prosecutions. It discloses no evidence of any criminal offence.

Sir E. Keeling

Would my hon. and learned Friend make it clear, as I think he almost has, that there is no reflection whatever upon the honesty and integrity of Phillips' Furnishing Stores, Wynn's Furnishing Stores and, in Wales, A. Bevan and Co. who were named in this House on the last occasion the matter was mentioned?

The Attorney-General

Obviously, there can be no reflection upon anyone in respect of whom a careful investigation of this kind has been made.

Mr. Porter

Does not the hon. and learned Gentleman agree that one of the results of this inquiry has been to interfere with the possibility of ordinary salesmen, working-class chaps, who work for these firms, receiving the increased commission which automatically they would have received through the winter sales? Is he not aware that such winter sales were not conducted by the firms because of the length of the inquiries which have been made?

The Attorney-General

I am afraid all I can say is that some allegations were made against certain people and that they have been proved to be unfounded.

Mr. N. Macpherson

May I have your guidance, Mr. Speaker? On 24th November, no fewer than 10 hon. Members put down Questions on this subject, making allegations of illegal trading methods and unlawful practices, when a number of firms were mentioned in a supplementary question. Some of the hon. Members were closely associated with a rival trading organisation. Before these Questions were put down at all, according to my information, all goods had been delivered or deposits refunded to unsatisfied customers. As these very damaging allegations have been shown by my hon. and learned Friend's reply to have no foundation in fact, would it not be appropriate for those responsible for putting down the Questions—and I see one in his place—to apologise?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order for me. I have to take Questions on the basis that hon. Members who ask them or who put them on the Paper make themselves responsible for the facts which the Questions disclose.

Mr. Bellenger

As an allegation has been made by the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. N. Macpherson) against one or more hon. Members on this side of the House whom, he alleged, represented rival organisations, may I submit that that is a gross breach of Parliamentary custom?

Mr. Speaker

I did not follow that part of the hon. Gentleman's question.

Mr. Elwyn Jones

The words used by the hon. Gentleman were that the hon. Members on this side of the House who raised the matter were closely associated with a rival trading organisation. The clear imputation of that is that the motive which induced hon. Members on this side of the House to raise the question was a personal interest which they had in a rival trading association. In view of the fact that that remark was made at a time when the hon. Member was purporting to raise the matter in the name of the order of the House, it seems to me that his remark was quite uncalled for and ought to be withdrawn.

Mr. Speaker

I am obliged to the hon. Member for that explanation. It must be clearly understood that all imputations against hon. Members of any undisclosed or unavowed motive are quite out of order and should not be made in the House.

Mr. Macpherson

Further to that point of order. I was not making any imputation against the bona fides of hon. Members. All I said was that it is a fact that they are closely associated with a rival trading organisation, and, that being the case, while no imputation is made in any way against their bona fides, no doubt they would wish to apologise.

Mr. Speaker

Hon. Members must act as they are advised about making apologies.