§ 19. Mr. Brewisasked the Secretary of State for War what estimate was made by his Department of the scrap value of the railway lines, cranes, and other port installations at Cairnryan before its sale 449 to Mr. H. G. Pounds; and how this estimate compared with the actual price realised.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe port was sold for use as it stood; the question of its scrap value did not arise.
§ Mr. BrewisIs my right hon. Friend aware that there are estimates locally that Mr. Pounds is sitting on a capital profit of at least £50,000? Further, does my right hon. Friend realise that Mr. Pounds is employing Messrs. Thomas Ward to scrap the cranes and sell them to Morocco? Does he not agree that it would have been very much better if they had been sold by the War Office in the first place to some reputable firm which would have provided employment in the district?
§ Mr. ProfumoI can only say that we sold this in good faith, bearing the taxpayer's interest in mind and doing our very best for the locality. Anything which I or my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade can do in an effort to help we will do, but the sale has taken place. It took place in good faith, and we really did the best we thought we could do in the circumstances.