HC Deb 16 July 1959 vol 609 c569
22. Mr. Hamilton

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement concerning the firm about which the hon. Member for Fife, West, has been in correspondence with him; how many further complaints have been received about its activities; how many of the total complaints have been from Scotland; and to what extent the complaints conform to a uniform pattern.

Sir D. Eccles

Seventeen complaints in all have now reached me. Seven of these are from Scotland. They have variously alleged that through bad siting the profits forecast have not materialised, that repair facilities were inadequate, and that machines ordered shortly before the company's collapse were not delivered. I have nothing to add to what I told the hon. Member on 9th July.

Mr. Hamilton

Is not the right hon. Gentleman yet convinced that he can do something in this matter? Can he give me any indication of the progress that he has made in his talks with the Home Secretary to bring back to this country the managing director of the firm, who mysteriously disappeared some weeks ago?

Sir D. Eccles

I am in touch with the Home Office—and, of course, extradition is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

Mr. Hamilton

Has any progress been made?