HC Deb 24 May 1960 vol 624 cc196-8
21. Lieut.-Commander Maydon

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what regulations he makes to control the terms of contracts for goods or for works placed by local authorities.

Mr. H. Brooke

I have no power under the law to make any such regulations.

Lieut.-Commander Maydon

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the form of tender for the supply of police gloves issued on 15th March, 1960—[HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."]—by the city council of Newcastle-upon-Tyne had attached to it a condition, and here I quote: None of the articles"—

Mr. Speaker

I have to insist upon the rule about quoting. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member can summarise the facts.

Lieut.-Commander Maydon

The condition was that none of the goods supplied in respect of the tender should be of South African origin. [HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."] Is my right hon. Friend further aware that this idiotic boycott, thought up by the party opposite, is likely to do greater harm to innocent people, including Africans—[HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."]—and others—

Mr. Speaker

Order. If there be less noise there might be more progress.

Lieut.-Commander Maydon

—and others who deplore racial discrimination than to those responsible for racial policies in South Africa?

Mr. Brooke

Without entrenching upon responsibilities wider than my own, I must tell my hon. and gallant Friend that I deprecate any such conditions in a tender for issue by a local authority, but I have no power to forbid it.

Mr. Callaghan

On the facts of the matter, is the Minister aware, and will he convey it to his hon. and gallant Friend, that the boycott did not originate with the party here? The request for this boycott came from those people in South Africa, many of whom are now in jail without trial, who wanted some moral succour in their distress?

Mr. Brooke

My sole concern is with the action of local authorities, and, as I say, I do not think it is proper for local authorities to encourage boycott conditions of this kind, but I cannot prevent them.

Mr. M. Stewart

Whether he thinks it is proper or not, would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is a matter on which local authorities ought to be entitled to please themselves, because a great many people feel as strongly in favour of the boycott as the hon. and gallant Gentleman feels against it, and it enjoys the support of people of a good deal greater distinction than the hon. and gallant Gentleman?

Mr. Brooke

The duty of local authorities is not to please themselves but to please the people who elect them.