HC Deb 18 March 1971 vol 813 cc1625-6
7. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what offers he has received from private brewers for the purchase of public houses and hotels in the state management districts.

Mr. Maudling

None, Sir. I do not expect to receive offers for assets of the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme until the method of sale has been announced.

Mr. Hamilton

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that when these pubs are "flogged off" to private speculators—private breweries—the House will be informed as to the amounts which those companies have contributed to Tory Party election funds?

Mr. Maudling

I thought that the hon. Gentleman's Question was framed in rather pejorative terms, but no doubt these are matters on which he will dilate during the course of the Bill.

Sir G. Nabarro

Speaking as a non-imbiber of the products of the brewers or of the distillers— I ask my right hon. Friend whether he clearly understands that there will be no shortage of offers for the purchase of these State assets, the sale of which to private enterprise brewers is about 50 years overdue?

Mr. Maudling

I cannot reply on the same basis, but I take heart at what my hon. Friend says.

Mr. Callaghan

To prevent any unworthy and unfair allegations being made about the motives for disposing of these assets, could not the Home Secretary help us by giving an undertaking that the 35 major breweries who have contributed £120,000 to Conservative Party funds will not have their offers accepted, but that the assets, if to be disposed of, will be offered to some public authority, for example, the county council?

Sir G. Noboru)

The co-operatives are offering.

Mr. Maudling

I recognise the right hon. Gentleman's intense desire to avoid any unfair imputations. I trust that he will continue in that practice during the passage of the Bill.