Sitting of 9 May 1949

Preamble
The House met at Half-past Two o'Clock
PRAYERS
[Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair]
PRIVATE BUSINESS
  LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL [MONEY] BILL
  Read a Second time, and committed.
  WEST BROMWICH CORPORATION BILL (By Order)
  Third Reading deferred till Thursday.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
  COAL INDUSTRY

    Opencast Mining
    Mr. Errollasked the Minister of Fuel and Power in how many cases during 1947 and 1948 have successful tenderers for opencast coal work been instructed by his Department to purchase plant from the Ministry of Supply or any other Government Department.
    The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Gaitskell): None, Sir. But because of the need to ensure that American machinery already purchased for dollars was employed in the most productive manner, there were a number of sites for which tenders were asked on the understanding that the successful tenderer would purchase excavating plant which was especially suitable for the site concerned. The number of machines purchased from the Ministry in this way was 43 in 1947, and 38 in 1948.
    Mr. Erroll: In actual fact, was it not the case that many contractors were compelled to take machinery they did not want; and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the evidence put before the Select Committee it was stated that the Ministry had started unloading plant on unsuccessful tenderers?
    Mr. Gaitskell: The answer to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question is,
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    "Certainly not, Sir," and I would not agree with that interpretation of the evidence put before the Select Committee.
    Mr. Errollasked the Minister of Fuel and Power on what basis is the initial cost of providing loading and screening facilities for opencast coal-mining written off by his Department.
    Mr. Gaitskell: Capital expenditure incurred in the provision of loading and screening facilities is spread over the total production programme. An annual review is made of the rate at which such expenditure is written off, and, if necessary, adjustments are made in the light of the balance still outstanding, the estimated amount of future capital expenditure and the remaining production programme.
    Mr. Erroll: Can the right hon. Gentleman say if, then, the whole of the capital cost is ultimately recovered from the selling price of coal?
    Mr. Gaitskell: Yes, Sir.
    Erroll askedthe Minister of Fuel and Power what percentage of the sale price of opencast coal is represented by Departmental overheads.
    Mr. Gaitskell: The estimated figure for the year ended 31st March, 1949, is 41 per cent. of the average sale price.
    The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. HUGH FRASER:
    15. To ask the Minister of Fuel and Power what action is being taken to restore the agricultural value on the opencast mining site at Hatchley Farm, Dilhorne, Stoke-on-Trent; why machinery including a tractor has lain idle there since 1st October, 1948; why a contractor's bungalow on the site is paying neither rent nor rates; what is the work of an engineer who is on duty on the site each day; and what action he proposes to take.
    Mr. Fraser: Mr. Speaker, may I point out that this Question should read, instead of "a tractor has," "six caterpillar tractors and six scrapers, the property of his Ministry, have."
    Mr. Gaitskell: Restoration work on this site began last October, but early in November, owing to bad weather, the ground became waterlogged and unfit for

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    further work, and the contractor was given permission to postpone work until the Spring. In April, however, he gave notice that he would be unable to complete his contract and alternative arrangements are now being made to complete the restoration of the site. The tractors and scrapers were not required for other work during the winter, and were left on the site for use when restoration started again.
    The contractor's agent and his wife were allowed to stay in a Nissen but erected by the contractor because they could find no alternative accommodation. It is not the practice of the Ministry to charge ground rent for contractors' buildings. I have no information about rates. The engineer who uses the office on the site is mainly engaged on routine work in connection with other sites in the district.
    Mr. Fraser: Is it not the fact that these tractors could have been employed in the month of November and also since April? In point of fact, they have been eating their heads off doing nothing. Further to that Irishism, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these tractors might well have been used by his right hon. Friend who has been complaining about the lack of tractors in Tanganyika? Something like 6,000 working hours have been lost by these tractors, which I compute to amount to a loss of about £9,000. Is the Minister further aware that the firm who were employed by his Ministry have since gone bankrupt? Is no check made of firms before such contracts are given to them? Finally, is the Minister aware that a complete mess has been made of the land, and that the topsoil and the subsoil are completely and inextricably intermingled?
    Mr. Gaitskell: The tractors may have been eating their heads off, but they are still alive, I am glad to say. They certainly could not have gone to Tanganyika and come back in time to do restoration work this Spring. As regards the contractor, I am glad to say that it is very rare for a contractor to break down on his contract as has happened in this case. We take all possible precautions to prevent that kind of thing happening.
    Mr. Tom Brownasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, in view of the Report of the Select Committee on Estimates,
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    whether he proposes any early change in the present opencast coal policy.
    Mr. Gaitskell: No, Sir; if we are to be able to meet the increasing demand for coal at home and our commitments to expand exports, it is imperative that everything possible should be done to fulfil the present opencast programme. The policy of the Government, therefore, remains as stated by my predecessor in the House on August 7th, 1947. At the same time we shall continue our effort to reduce costs of production which, as the Committee's Report shows, have fallen by nearly 10s. a ton in the last five years. My Department's reply on the detailed recommendations of the Select Committee will be forwarded to the Committee in due course.
    Mr. Brown: Arising from that reply, which indicates that the Government are continuing their policy of winning opencast coal, I want to submit the following questions to the Minister: first, is he aware that the people who are living adjacent to opencast sites are suffering great mental anxiety, physical discomfort and disturbance of their domestic life, and will he take steps to eliminate or reduce to the lowest possible level the discomforts experienced; and secondly, is he further aware that the promises made on 30th March at the meeting held in the Billinge U.D.C. to the people there have not been carried out by his Department? Will he ginger them up and see that the promises are kept?
    Mr. Gaitskell: With regard to the second part of the question, I will certainly follow up the information provided by my hon. Friend. As to the first part, we will certainly do everything we can to diminish the inconvenience which opencast operations cause in that locality, but I must insist that we carry out the programme if we are not to be short of coal.
    Colonel Gomme-Duncan: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the devastating effect on agriculture and food production is a factor which is just as important as that of obtaining coal? Why does not that get proper consideration?
    Mr. Gaitskell: It certainly does get proper consideration, but in terms of value it is very small by comparison with the value of the coal which is raised.

    Domestic Supplies, Cornwall
    Mr. Douglas Marshallasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the shortage of anthracite and domestic coal in South-East Cornwall; and if he will take immediate action to rectify this position.
    Mr. Beechmanasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will take steps to remedy the shortage of fuel in West Cornwall, with particular reference to anthracite.
    Mr. Gaitskell: As I have frequently explained to the House, and as my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has recently indicated in correspondence with the hon. Members, anthracite is scare on the home market owing to the need to increase exports, particularly to Canada. The shortage is no more acute in Cornwall than elsewhere, and coke, of which supplies are adequate, is a satisfactory substitute in most stoves and boilers. Stocks of house coal in South-East and West Cornwall are reasonably good for this time of the year, and I am not aware of any special difficulties in these areas.
    Mr. Marshall: The Minister has used the word "scarce." Is he aware that in Cornwall this is not a question of scarcity; the supply of anthracite is absolutely zero. With regard to the last part of my Question, is the Minister aware that domestic coal is at a dangerously low level? I do not think it is reasonable compared with the rest of the country. Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the matter again?
    Mr. Gaitskell: According to my information, stocks of domestic coal in Cornwall are substantially above the level in the rest of the country, and represent at least two or 1½ weeks' consumption.
    Mr. Somerville Hastings: Is my right hon. Friend prepared to give priority to owners of stoves which only burn anthracite?
    Mr. Gaitskell: Yes, Sir, we have always given instructions to our local officers to ensure that in such cases anthracite shall be provided.
    Captain John Crowder: Would the Minister ask for a special report from the South-Western Fuel Overseer?—because I have been round two or three
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    coal yards in that area, and there is no domestic coal at all. The Scotch anthracite burns too slowly for these "Cookanheat" stoves. There is no Welsh anthracite whatsoever in the St. Austell district—or there was none three weeks ago.
    Mr. Gaitskell: I had, of course, obtained a report from my regional officer before answering the Question. I do not think the hon. and gallant Member realises that stocks of house coal are normally very low at this time of the year.
    Mr. Marshall: Is the Minister aware that the report that he mentioned referred to Cornwall, whereas I had specifically referred to South-East Cornwall? Perhaps there is a conflict there. Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire into the matter further?
    Mr. Gaitskell: According to my information, stocks in South-East Cornwall amount to 1.6 weeks supply.

    Western Europe (Production and Marketing)
    Mr. Boothbyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether any steps have been taken by His Majesty's Government either through the National Coal Board or otherwise to co-ordinate the production and marketing of coal in Western Europe as a whole.
    Mr. Gaitskell: Production and marketing of coal in Western Europe is coordinated through the Coal Committee of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation on which His Majesty's Government are represented. This Committee meets frequently in Paris to deal with solid fuel problems arising within the framework of the Organisation, in particular the forward coal prospects, requirements and availabilities of the participating countries. In addition, His Majesty's Government are represented on the Coal Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe which includes representatives of all European countries who are members of the United Nations. This Committee meets quarterly in Geneva to recommend allocations of the available supplies of coal, and has recently initiated a study of the long-term aspects of European coal production and utilisation. The National Coal Board is kept in close touch with the Paris and

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    Geneva Committees through the Government machinery in London, and representatives of the Board also attend meetings of the committees as advisers to the United Kingdom delegate.
    Mr. Boothby: Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that after the first world war cut-throat competition between British, Polish, German and French coal industries resulted in every ton of coal cut being sold under the cost of production? Does he recognise the necessity for taking effective steps to see that this situation never recurs?
    Mr. Gaitskell: The hon. Member raises a very big issue with which I cannot deal in question and answer, but I can assure him that we appreciate the point he has made.
    Mr. Wilson Harris: Does either of the bodies mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman deal with Ruhr coal which is being exported at a price substantially below the normal world price?
    Mr. Gaitskell: Certainly, the Economic Commission for Europe would be concerned with that, and also I think the other Committee.
    Mr. Emrys Hughes: Is the Minister aware that Polish coal is now being landed in Eire? Cannot something be done to make better co-ordination than that?
    Mr. Gaitskell: I am not aware of any lack of co-ordination. At any rate, so long as we can sell all the coal we can afford to export I do not think we need grumble very much.

    Mining Subsidence (Report)
    Miss Jennie Leeasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he can now state when legislation will be introduced to implement the main findings of the Report on Mining Subsidence or alternatively, in view of the urgency of the matter, if he will consider introducing a short preliminary Measure dealing with compensation for damage done to cottage property.
    Mr. Gaitskell: I regret I am not yet in a position to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 24th February last. The proposals raise many important issues which are the concern of several Govern-
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    ment Departments, as well as the National Coal Board, and some delay is inevitable before the Government can reach a decision on the Report and the action to be taken as a result of it.
    Miss Lee: Has the Minister considered the suggestion in the second part of the Question?
    Mr. Gaitskell: Yes, Sir, but I do not think it would be practicable to introduce separate legislation dealing with that point, and in any case the exact criteria to be applied in the matter of claiming compensation is one of the points which must be most carefully looked into.
    Miss Lee: In that case, is the Minister aware that three months ago the answer he has now given was reasonably satisfactory, but that the people living in the cottages there are being subjected to the same treatment as if they were under enemy bombardment, and that they are no longer satisfied with that answer? We really must ask for a hasty decision.
    Mr. Gaitskell: I quite appreciate my hon. Friend's concern in this matter, which I share, but I would ask her to be a little patient. This is a very difficult problem into which we must go carefully before we reach a decision.
    Mr. A. Edward Davies: Would the Minister kindly tell us whether an opportunity will be provided for the House to discuss the Report? We agree that there are many complications and that might be a profitable procedure.
    Mr. Gaitskell: That is hardly a question which should be addressed to me.
    Mr. Tom Brown: Is the Minister aware that we had an understanding from his predecessor in 1946 that legislation affecting compensation for mining subsidence would be brought before this House before the end of 1949?
    Mr. Gaitskell: I am not aware of any such promise being given. I should be very surprised if, in fact, it were given.

  PETROL SUPPLIES

    Overseas Visitors
    Mr. Niall Macphersonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether overseas visitors who purchase secondhand cars can now be given the same

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    facilities in regard to petrol allowances as are made available to overseas visitors purchasing new cars in this country.
    Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has now come to a decision on the possibility of making an allowance of petrol available for visitors to Britain who wish to use friends' cars.
    Mr. Gaitskell: I have come to the conclusion that arrangements can be made whereby, without undue risk of black market operations developing, a small supplementary petrol allowance can be issued to visitors from overseas who borrow a car here or buy one secondhand. Accordingly, as from 1st June, such visitors will be able to obtain a special allowance of petrol sufficient for 250 miles of motoring, in addition to any standard ration available with the car. Each visitor will be entitled to only one allowance in a period of six months, and not more than one allowance will be issued for any one car in the same period. Further details will be announced shortly.
    Mr. Dodds-Parker: Is the Minister aware that the removal of this restriction so far will give considerable satisfaction, and will he endeavour to remove it still further?
    Mr. Gaitskell: I think we had better wait and see how the plan works out in practice.
    Mr. Douglas Marshall: Can the Minister say whether, where his regional officers have turned down recent requests, they will in fact take up those cases immediately in case sufficient publicity is not given to this matter?
    Mr. Gaitskell: Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would await the further details which will be announced very shortly.
    Mr. Odey: Is not a mileage of 250 miles a very inadequate concession?
    Mr. Gaitskell: It is a small allowance, but I am satisfied that if we were to give a larger one the danger of abuse would be very great indeed.

    Hotel-Keepers (Fishing)
    Wilfrid Robertsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will make a special allowance of petrol to hotel-keepers to enable them to transport their visitors to fish in rivers and lochs.
    Mr. Gaitskell: Yes, Sir. I am prepared to grant a small allowance to hotels in exceptionally isolated rural areas for the use of a car to convey guests to a river or loch where the hotel has acquired fishing rights.
    Mr. Roberts: Can the Minister say whether any special conditions, in addition to these, are being imposed?
    Mr. Gaitskell: Subject to the interpretation of this rule by my regional petroleum officers, "None, Sir."
    Sir Waldron Smithers: Is it not much more important to grant an additional allowance to commercial travellers, because their job is part of the raw material for the export trade?
    Mr. Gaitskell: I have recently raised the allowance for commercial travellers.

    Radiospares, Ltd.
    Mr. Peter Thorneycroftasked the Minister of Fuel and Power (1) under what authority his Department suggested to Radiospares, Ltd., that they should at their own expense have saloon bodies removed from their vehicles and van bodies put in their place at a cost of £5,000 in order to evade the regulations under which his own Department are operating;
    (2) why he has reduced the amount of petrol previously allowed to Radiospares, Ltd., 19–23, Fitzroy Street, London, W.1.
    Mr. Gaitskell: This firm originally received allowances for its cars from my regional petroleum officers. Last year, the firm converted its cars, obtained C licences and was given allowances by the district transport officer of the Ministry of Transport on the higher scale applicable to goods vehicles. When the definition of private motor vehicles was altered to include dual purpose vehicles so as to prevent their obtaining red petrol, the firm had once again to apply to the regional petroleum officer for allowances for its cars. After a careful review of the case, it was decided to increase by one-third the allowance previously issued by the regional petroleum officer.
    As regards the construction of the cars, my officers merely agreed that if certain alterations suggested by the firm were carried out, the vehicles would no longer fall within the structural definition of

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    private motor vehicles contained in the Motor Spirit (Amendment) Regulations, 1948.
    Mr. Thorneyeroft: Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that a car needs the same amount of petrol, whether the petrol is supplied by the Ministry of Transport or the Ministry of Fuel and Power? The car does exactly the same job. Could the right hon. Gentleman give some explanation as to why a differential scale is applied by the two Ministries? As the Minister has answered my two Questions together, perhaps I may ask two supplementary questions. Is he aware whether the advice, given "under the counter," so to speak, by his Department, that this firm should convert its vehicles, is accurate? Are the regulations so silly that if a different body is put on a vehicle which does exactly the same work as it was doing before, it gets a different amount of petrol?
    Mr. Gaitskell: There has always been a quite natural distinction between the scales of allowance applicable to vehicles whose purpose is carrying goods, and to private cars which obviously can be far more easily used for private purposes. That distinction must, I think, be maintained. This firm converted its vehicles in effect to evade the anti-black market regulations which we introduced, and it is now being caught under the regulations which stop that evasion.
    Mr. Erroll: If the firm carries out a fresh conversion so that the vehicles conform to the definition required, can the Minister say whether they will get their former allowances of petrol back again?
    Mr. Gaitskell: If the firm conforms to the law, it conforms to the law.

  HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECTS, NORTH WALES
  Mr. Emrys Robertsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the present position regarding the proposal to construct several large reservoirs for electricity generation in North Wales; and if he will give an assurance that local authorities and amenity societies will be fully consulted.
  Mr. Gaitskell: The British Electricity Authority recently announced in the Press certain plans which they were considering for the development of hydro-electric power in North Wales. I have received an application for the building and civil engineering work necessary for extending the existing Dolgarrog Catchment Area, and notices of this application have been published and plans deposited for public inspection to give interested parties every opportunity of making representations. As regards the other major projects, the British Electricity Authority have not yet sought the statutory powers which they must have before proceeding with them. The answer to the last part of the Question is, "Yes, Sir."

  FOOD SUPPLIES

    Groundnut Scheme
    Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Food what report of the progress of harvest under the groundnut scheme in Tanganyika he has received.
    The Minister of Food (Mr. Strachey): Since the third week in March, when the crop prospects were good, most, but not all, of Tanganyika has suffered a widespread and severe drought, which has seriously affected both the groundnut and sunflower crops in the Central and Western Province, causing premature ripening. In consequence, harvesting of groundnuts began in the second week of April, a month before the normal time. No figures of yields will be available until the crop is decorticated at the central depots, but this year's crop in the Central Province, where most of the acreage already cleared lies, will obviously be seriously affected. On the other hand, it is encouraging to notice that the Southern Province, where by far the greater part of the scheme's acreage will lie, has not suffered nearly so severely from this general sub-continental drought.
    Mr. Hurd: I am sure we all agree with the Minister that it is very unfortunate that there has been this drought in Tanganyika, but of course that happens fairly regularly in those parts. Can he tell us a little about the prospective yield of the sunflower crop which is, I think, a bigger acreage than the groundnuts at Kongwa, because that was going to contribute very considerably to the total quantity of oil seeds we were to expect?
    Mr. Strachey: I cannot agree with the implications in the first part of the supplementary question that droughts occur very frequently in that part of the world. The rainfall is quite well known and the hon. Member can look up the average tables for himself. Droughts of this severity are quite rare, as a matter of fact. It will certainly affect the sunflower crop in Kongwa, as well as the groundnut crop. We do not know what will be the yield.
    Mr. Oliver Stanley: Does the right hon. Gentleman now wish to alter his statement, made on 14th March, that many thousands of tons of this groundnut oil would this year go into the margarine ration?
    Mr. Strachey: I think the right hon. Gentleman is misquoting me. I do not think I used the words "many thousands of tons." But certainly I do not want to alter the statement—which I think was the statement—that there would be a contribution to the margarine ration this year, and I repeat that statement. It will not be so large as it would have been if the crop had been larger.
    Sir Ralph Glyn: With regard to the comparative failure in the East, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he will pay more attention to the surplus quantity of groundnuts in the West of Africa?
    Mr. Strachey: For the last 18 months we have been paying the most close attention to the problem of moving that surplus down the Kano Railway, as the hon. Gentleman knows. I am glad to say the weekly movements now are nearly 2,000 tons up on last year.
    Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Food if, in view of the resignations of seven of the senior staff of the Overseas Food Corporation employed on the groundnut scheme in Tanganyika, he will strengthen the board of the Overseas Food Corporation to ensure that there is at headquarters a proper appreciation of the practical problems involved in making a success of this scheme.
    Mr. Strachey: I cannot accept the hon. Member's implication that the resignation of any executive in East Africa calls for special measures to strengthen the Board of the Overseas Food Corporation.
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    In fact, almost all the changes that have taken place recently in the senior staff in East Africa result from the determination of the chairman and members of the Board to re-organise, build up and maintain an efficient local establishment, with a full appreciation of the practical problems involved in the enterprise. I can assure the House that the Board is fully aware of the need for practical experience. That is why the chairman and the majority of the members of the Board have been in East Africa almost continuously for the past three months.
    Mr. Hurd: Does not the Minister know that things are at sixes and sevens out there and that orders and counter-orders have been given each week? In view of the very disturbed state of mind of many of the staff, would he not think it wise now to strengthen the Board, as the Question suggests, by adding some people who have their feet on the ground and who already have had experience of African conditions?
    Mr. Strachey: No, Sir. I cannot agree with any of those implications and I do not agree for one moment that orders and counter-orders are being given. I do know that a small number of executives—four or five—have resigned and have been replaced by others and that, I think, was very wise action on the part of the Board.
    Mr. Walter Fletcher: Does not the Minister consider that these resignations point to the necessity of his reviewing the whole of this scheme in the new situation which exists in the world? Further, on the question of having experienced people, would he remember that he appointed as the original people at the head of this Corporation those who had had no experience at all in Africa?
    Mr. Strachey: No, Sir. Mr. Wakefield, for example, had 15 years' experience of agriculture in Tanganyika. These statements have no relation whatever to the facts.
    Mr. Stanley: Would the right hon. Gentleman say whether these seven resignations referred to were, in fact, voluntary resignations or whether they were, as he has given the House to believe by his answers, dismissals?
    Mr. Strachey: They were different in different cases. Two of them were doctors who were going back to other medical

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    work in this country, and they were entirely voluntary, but some of the others were, in fact, at the wish of the Board.
    Mr. Frederic Harris: Does the Minister really know who these executives are, because on the last occasion in the House, when I raised this issue, he made a mistake?
    Mr. Strachey: I have a list of their names before me, if that is what is meant by the hon. Member.

    Knacker's Yard Order
    Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Food if he has considered a letter from the Stafford Rural District Council about the Knacker's Yard Order of 1948; and if he is prepared to amend the order on the lines suggested by its Chief Sanitary Inspector.
    Mr. Strachey: The Council's suggestions raise important practical and legal questions and will take some little time to consider. I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the reply to their letter when a decision is reached.

    Pigs (Slaughtering)
    Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Minister of Food what is the practice of his Department in administering the words undue hardship, which, under Section 3 of circular LLP dealing with pig slaughtering, exempt pig keepers from taking their animals to a depot under his control.
    Mr. Strachey: We do not ask pig keepers to take their pigs more than five miles; and transport difficulties due, for instance, to had weather, are taken into consideration.
    Mr. Skeffington-Lodge: In particular cases, where farmers are gravely inconvenienced, will my right hon. Friend see whether undue hardship is not a factor, so that they may have their pigs killed on the spot if they so desire? There are such cases in my constituency.
    Mr. Strachey: Perhaps my hon. Friend will give me particulars.

    Restaurant Meals (Maximum Charge)
    Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the increased cost of food as a result of the Budget,
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    he will raise the maximum charge that may be made for meals at restaurants.
    Mr. Strachey: The average cost of a restaurant meal will be increased by only one-eighth of a penny by these changes.
    Mr. Keeling: Would not the Minister consider abolishing altogether this wartime restriction, which is so vexatious, so bad for the tourist trade, and is not found necessary in any other country?
    Mr. Strachey: That is an entirely different question.

    Food Parcels
    Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Minister of Food if, when British subjects send food parcels abroad in accordance with the regulations, he will arrange with the Postmaster-General to increase the weight sufficiently to allow for the containers, particulars of which have been sent him.
    Mr. Strachey: The 7 lb. limit is based on the international postal scale for parcels. The next higher weight would be 11 lb., and we do not allow parcels weighing more than 7 lb. to be sent, since they might be profitably re-sold and a considerable illicit export trade in food develop.
    Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been drawn to circulars sent to people in this country by an organisation described as Home Parcel Service of 5c Connaught Place, New Delhi, and from other similar organisations inviting persons to order parcels of food to be sent to them in this country; and how far his regulations permit persons in this country to act on the invitation contained in these circulars.
    Mr. Strachey: Yes, Sir. We have no jurisdiction over traders abroad who send these circulars, but anyone in the United Kingdom buying rationed foods offered in this way is committing an offence against the Food Rationing (General Provisions) Order. I understand that it is also an offence against the Import of Goods (Control) Order to import any goods without a Board of Trade licence.
    Mr. Boyd-Carpenter: In view of the fact that circulars of this kind do come in considerable quantities, and of the fact that many of the recipients are quite unaware of the legal position, will the right

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    hon. Gentleman take steps to make that legal position known, so that however silly the law may be, it can be enforced?
    Mr. Strachey: Yes, Sir, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I are issuing a joint statement on the matter.

    Poultry (Control)
    Lady Tweedsmuirasked the Minister of Food at what date he proposes to decontrol the price and distribution of poultry.
    Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that poultry is regularly being sold at more than the controlled price; and whether he now considers that poultry should be decontrolled.
    Brigadier Medlicottasked the Minister of Food when the price and distribution of poultry will be decontrolled.
    Mr. Strachey: I regret that I cannot yet give the date on which decontrol will take place.
    Lady Tweedsmuir: Can the Minister give an assurance that, in view of the reduced meat ration, he will implement his promise to decontrol the price and distribution of poultry at an early date?
    Mr. Strachey: Yes, Sir, but it is the present shortage of meat which is in my mind when I say that it would be premature to fix the date at the present time.

    Cereals
    Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Food if he will give an estimate of the total subsidy allocated to cereals used for branded breakfast foods.
    Mr. Strachey: We do not propose to subsidise cereals used for branded breakfast foods in the current year.

    Carrots
    Mr. Odeyasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there are considerable stocks of carrots lying in pie in the East Riding of Yorkshire which belong to his Department and which will suffer rapid deterioration with the advent of hot weather; and if he will arrange for these supplies to be moved immediately so that the carrots can be saved
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    and the land occupied by the pies be available for recultivation.
    Mr. Strachey: As orders come in the remaining carrots are being moved and, as far as possible, priority is given to stocks on land needed for recultivation.
    Mr. Odey: In view of the great discouragement to the farming community, who fear the food they produce may go rotten, will the right hon. Gentleman see to it that the appalling wastage that occurred in carrots last year is not repeated?
    Mr. Strachey: I could not agree that these carrots have been wasted, for they are being used for stock feed.
    Sir W. Smithers: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that last week carrots were practically unobtainable in Covent Garden?

    Meat (Wholesale Price)
    Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food why, in view of the fact that the price of meat has been increased by 4d. per pound, his Department is charging butchers 5d. per pound extra.
    Mr. Strachey: The hon. Member has been misinformed. The average wholesale price of meat to butchers has been increased by 4d. a lb. The particular increases vary between 2d. and 5d. per lb.
    Sir W. Smithers: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I hold in my hand a letter from a responsible person in Yorkshire, who says that the Ministry of Food charge the butchers 5d. a lb. all round for meat? I do not think he knows what his own people are doing.
    Mr. Strachey: That was what I had in mind when I said that the hon. Member had been misinformed.

    Sardines
    Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the fact that sardines are not available in the shops; and what steps he is taking to remedy this situation.
    Mr. Strachey: The present shortage is due to failure in the Portuguese fishing last year. I am again negotiating for

    1483
    large quantities of sardines this season. and if fishing is satisfactory good supplies should be available here towards the end of the year. In the meantime we are making regular allocations of brisling and sild.
    Mr. Skeffington-Lodge: Has my right hon. Friend tried to get supplies from France as well as from Portugal?
    Mr. Strachey: We hope to get very substantial supplies from French North Africa this year.
    Sir Stanley Holmes: Is it not a fact that in 1947 private merchants in this country were able to buy sardines in Portugal without interference, with the result that we had a full supply a year ago; but that the Ministry of Food decided last summer to go in for bulk buying, so that the private merchants were no longer allowed to buy directly from Portugal, with the result that now we have no sardines in the shops?
    Mr. Strachey: That does not represent the case at all.
    Hon. Members: Oh.
    Mr. Boothby: Is there any truth in reports that sardines in considerable quantities have recently been seen approaching the shores of this country? Are any steps to be taken to catch them when they arrive?
    Mr. Strachey: I suggest that the hon. Member's fishing constituents should take part in that operation.

    "Food Facts" (Advertisements)
    Mr. Baldwinasked the Minister of Food what is the object of advertisements under the heading, "Food Facts," such as, "Our Big Day"; and what has been the expenditure on this particular advertisement.
    Mr. Strachey: The object of the advertisement was to ask grown-up people to delay their purchases until the children had had an opportunity of buying sweets. The cost of space for this advertisement was £3,200.
    Mr. Baldwin: Does the Minister really consider it worth while to use up the
    1484
    taxpayers' money encouraging Peter, Sarah, Joey and Brenda to be selfish at the expense of their elders? Does he not think it would be better to provide Peter, Sarah, Joey and Brenda with more protein food rather than sweets?
    Mr. Strachey: No, Sir; this is an example of how much my views differ from the hon. Member's on this and almost every other question.
    Mrs. Jean Mann: Would not my right hon. Friend consider taking some drastic action against the people who run in and out of confectionery shops, buying as much as 20s. worth at a time?
    Mr. Chetwynd: Do not many adults behave as though they have never seen chocolates off the ration, so that children who indeed have never been able to get sweets off the ration are being deprived of their share?
    Mr. Strachey: Some adults may behave like children. That is always possible.

    Feedingstuffs (Imports)
    Mr. Bossomasked the Minister of Food if he will state the approximate tonnage of animal foodstuffs he must import month by month to maintain the existing meat ration until September, 1950.
    Mr. Strachey: Home produced supplies of rationed meat depend mainly on homegrown feedingstuffs and are not much affected by changes in supplies of imported feedingstuffs which are used chiefly for the production of milk, eggs and bacon. Feedingstuffs, even if imported now and directed to produce beef or pork, could have no significant effect on the output of meat for the ration until the summer of 1950.
    Mr. Bossom: Would the Minister state whether he could buy more from Empire sources if he wished?
    Mr. Strachey: No, Sir. We buy all the available feedingstuffs not only from Empire and Commonwealth sources, but also from all non-dollar sources.
    Mr. Bossom: Would the right hon. Gentleman mind answering my question? Could he buy more if he wished to do so?
    Mr. Strachey: I have just answered the hon. Member's question. We do

    1485
    already buy all the available supplies from Commonwealth and all other non-dollar sources.

    Pork (Imports)
    Mr. Hurd askedthe Minister of Food the quantity and value of the pork which he has recently bought in the United States of America; if this will suffice to maintain the fresh meat ration until September; and when he expects to settle the import programme of animal feedingstuffs for 1949–50, so that a substantial increase can be made in the rations for British pigs, which will enable home production to be expanded to at least the level of 1938.
    Mr. Strachey: The purchase of pork in the United States is not yet complete so I cannot give quantities or prices. This pork will greatly help to maintain the carcase meat ration until home production comes along in the late summer. What animal feedingstuffs we are able to buy in 1949–50 will depend upon the outcome of our negotiations with the exporting countries, of which the two most important are Russia and the Argentine.
    Mr. Hurd: While the Minister is making this deal with America for pork, would he not, at the same time, make a deal with them to bring in more coarse grains, so that he can immediately increase feedingstuffs for pigs in this country, with the result that by 1950 he will get more home produced pork?
    Mr. Strachey: Yes, Sir, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer would certainly insist that all possible non-dollar sources should be explored first.

    Oatmeal (Exports)
    Mr. Spenceasked the Minister of Food why he refuses to permit the export of oatmeal and oat products to India and Pakistan; and when this trade may be resumed.
    Mr. Strachey: Exports within certain limits are allowed to these destinations.
    Mr. Spence: Can the Minister say why in that case he has recently informed the manufacturers of these products that no permits can be issued, and is he aware that similar products are freely being imported into India from Australia?
    Mr. Strachey: No, Sir. I think that the hon. Gentleman has one particular
    1486
    transaction in mind. I think that that case might be reconsidered, but there is no general prohibition of exports to these destinations or any others.

    Fruit and Vegetables (Director)
    Mr. Royleasked the Minister of Food what rank in his Department is held by his chief adviser on the distribution of home-grown and imported fruit and vegetables.
    Mr. Strachey: My chief adviser on these problems is the Director of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, a man who has been in the Ministry since the outbreak of war and whose advice was often sought by Departments even before the Ministry was established. Formerly a director of a firm of fruit brokers and a past President of the Wholesale Fruit Trade Federation, he was also a member of certain Ministry of Agriculture and Empire Marketing Board committees. He enjoys my fullest confidence and that of all sections of the trade, with whose representatives he is constantly in contact.
    Mr. Royle: In view of that answer, may we take it that my right hon. Friend is satisfied that suggestions which had been made against this officer in the past are quite unjustified?
    Mr. Strachey: I am perfectly satisfied.

    Fresh Fruits (Cold Storage)
    Mr. Harrisonasked the Minister of Food if he will inquire into the availability of cold storage facilities for storing fresh fruits in the country generally and encourage the provision of such storage facilities, in or near the big cities, so as to improve the supplies and avoid waste.
    Mr. Strachey: My Department already has full particulars of all cold stores suitable or quickly adaptable for the storage of fresh fruit. I am satisfied that the space available in commercial and Government-owned stores is ample to meet any calls likely to be made upon it.

  SOAP COUPONS (HOLIDAY ESTABLISHMENTS)
  Mrs. Ganleyasked the Minister of Food under what regulation hotel and boarding house keepers have to extract soap coupons from visitors' ration books when spending short times on holiday.
  Mr. Strachey: Under the Soap (Licensing of Manufacturers and Rationing) Order, 1948; the period is 12 or more consecutive nights.

  AUSTRIA (POLITICAL PARTIES)
  Miss Leeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now give an assurance that the Austrian people will be free to decide the number of political parties contesting the next election; or if the present limitation to three parties will be maintained.
  Mrs. Ayrton Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Control Commission in Austria have yet agreed to allow new political parties to be set up there in accordance with the Austrian Constitution and if not what action is being taken by the British element on the matter.
  Mr. J. B. Hyndasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Allied Control Council in Vienna is preventing the recognition of any political parties in Austria other than the People's Party, the Socialist Party and the Communist Party; what is the attitude of the British element of the Control Council in this matter; and whether the embargo will be removed so as to enable such democratic parties as wish to prepare for the forthcoming elections to do so in good time.
  Mr. Shackletonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the Austrian people are free to exercise their democratic right to form new political parties.
  Mr. Benn Levyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will assure the House that any attempt to influence the course and results of the forthcoming elections in Austria by artificially restricting the number of parties who may contest the election will be vigorously resisted by His Majesty's Government.
  The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Mayhew): His Majesty's Government have for some time been anxious that the Austrians should be free to form any new political parties they wish in accordance with the
  1488
  Austrian Constitution. The House will, however, appreciate that there are various other considerations which have to be taken into account, and one of them is the need for securing joint action by all four of the occupying powers in Austria. My right hon. Friend regrets that it has not yet been possible to obtain unanimity in this matter.
  Miss Lee: Is the Minister aware that his answer will give great satisfaction to all democratic opinion in Austria, here, America, or anywhere else; and can we depend on the vigorous action of the British Government to defend this principle in all quarters?
  Mr. Mayhew: I think that my answer shows that we have done, and are doing, our best to ensure by our attitude that the Austrians are free to form new political parties if they wish to do so under the Constitution.
  Mr. Shackleton: Will the Minister consider taking this matter up at a much higher level with the American and other Governments who participate in the Allied Council, and point out to them that their attitude in refusing to allow the Austrians to form new political parties strikes at the very root of the democratic basis of Western democracy and that there are very important principles which should be understood in this matter?
  Mr. Mayhew: We had very full discussions with the French and United States Governments on this point.
  Mr. W. Roberts: Can the Minister say, apart from expressing general approval of this principle, when in fact it may be possible for the Austrians to form political parties as they wish?
  Mr. Mayhew: I do not think I can speculate about that matter.
  Mr. Warbey: Can my hon. Friend say which of the other Allied Powers are preventing the achievement of unanimity on this question?
  Mr. Mayhew: We have discussed this question with the French and United States Governments and have not been able to reach agreement.
  Mr. Levy: Will my hon. Friend assure the House that the efforts of His Majesty's Government, although so far unsuccessful, are by no means yet over, and that he will persist in this matter?
  Mr. Mayhew: If a suitable opportunity occurs, we will revert to it.
  Mr. Emrys Roberts: Can the Minister say definitely which Government is putting an obstacle in the way?
  Miss Lee: Will my hon. Friend see that this matter is brought to the personal attention of Mr. Dean Acheson, the American Secretary of State, because it seems to be a contradiction of all that he ever stood for that he should not in this matter express the same democratic opinion in his own country as he has expressed elsewhere?

  GERMANY

    Control Commission (Staff)
    Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the number of persons employed by the British Control Commission in Germany now and a year ago, respectively.
    Mr. Mayhew: The numbers are 12,505 civilians and 188 military personnel at 31st March, 1949, and 17,135 civilians and 519 military personnel at 31st March, 1948.
    Air-Commodore Harvey: Can the Under-Secretary say what the figures will be in a few months' time; what reduction will take place?
    Mr. Mayhew: Further reductions are expected, but I cannot give the figures offhand.

  SPAIN (DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS)
  Mr. Levyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if His Majesty's Government will oppose the rescinding of the United Nations' resolution regarding Spain of 12th December, 1946.
  Mr. Mayhew: A resolution was moved in the Political Committee on Saturday last to rescind that part of the 1946 resolution which deals with diplomatic relations with Spain. As my hon. Friend will no doubt be aware, the United Kingdom Delegate abstained from voting.
  Mr. Levy: As the resolution to which my hon. Friend refers only partially covered the resolution of 1946, would he
  1490
  answer in full the Question on the Order Paper, and tell me, therefore, whether this attitude of neutrality means that his right hon. Friend has so far not been able to make up his mind on this very important question; because, if he has made up his mind, then surely the Foreign Secretary in Great Britain should give a lead by boldly proclaiming whether—
  Mr. Speaker: This is really becoming a speech and not a question.
  Mr. Anthony Nutting: Will the hon. Gentleman assure the House that the Government will follow up the excellent common-sense advice given to the United Nations the other day by the Minister of State, that the conditions of trade with Spain should not be overruled by purely political considerations?
  Mr. Wilson Harris: If His Majesty's Government are convinced, as they must be, of the futility of withdrawing our Ambassador from Madrid, will they take the straightforward course of voting in favour of the motion rescinding the 1946 resolution?
  Mr. Mayhew: No, Sir. We do not want to risk any misunderstanding of our political attitude in this case.
  Mr. Warbey: As this is not a question of trade but of political attitude, will my hon. Friend suggest to his right hon. Friend that this is a case where solidarity within the Commonwealth would be the right attitude to follow?
  Mr. Henry Strauss: Has the hon. Gentleman any hope that by the time this matter comes before the Assembly the Government will pluck up courage to vote one way or the other?
  Mr. Mayhew: Of course, it is not a matter of courage at all. We are pursuing a perfectly consistent policy in this question. We have always said that we do not regard this as a matter in which we had strong feelings. On the one hand, there can be practical advantages of having an Ambassador in Madrid, and, on the other hand, there is the danger of having our political attitude misrepresented.
  Mr. Levy: As my hon. Friend does not want our policy to be misunderstood, will His Majesty's Government make it quite clear whether this country favours or disfavours the inclusion of Fascist Spain in the comity of nations?
  Mr. Mayhew: That has been made clear on several occasions, and I have nothing to add to a recent reply.
  Mr. R. A. Butler: Leaving aside any opinion on the Government of Spain, is the hon. Gentleman aware that my hon. Friends on this side of the House attach particular importance to maintaining the closest diplomatic contacts with Spain and in being properly represented in Spain by an Ambassador?

  HOUSE OF COMMONS CATERING (GRANT)
  Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether the provision of £14,500 in the Estimates for 1949–50 as a grant in aid to the committee will suffice to defray the year's deficit on the basis of the present level of receipts and expenditure being maintained.
  Mr. McEntee: Receipts and expenditure of the Kitchen Committee have no direct bearing on the amount allowed in the Estimate referred to. The amount is provided as a contribution towards the cost of staff wages, insurance, and superannuation, during the period when the House is not sitting, as is done in the case of other staffs providing amenities for Members of the House. The actual cost to the committee is considerably in excess of the amount in the Estimate.
  Mr. Boyd-Carpenter: Can the hon. Gentleman assure the House that action is being taken by the committee to ensure that no further recourse to the taxpayer beyond the amount already voted will be voted at the end of the year?
  Mr. McEntee: The committee is and has been taking every possible step to ensure that. If the hon. Gentleman can add to our information we shall be very glad to hear from him.

  TRANSPORT

    Short Distance Haulage
    Mr. Harrisonasked the Minister of Transport if it is his intention to take any steps to prevent the possibility arising in the short-distance haulage areas of firms, outside the scope of nationalisation, from
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    concentrating lorries that had been previously used for long-distance work on the short-distance trade and thereby causing confusion in that part of the industry.
    The Minister of Transport (Mr. Barnes): It is too early yet to say whether any difficulties of this nature are likely to arise.
    Mr. Harrison: Has my right hon. Friend any action in view should this set of circumstances arise in the near future; has he any plans to overcome this difficulty when it does arise?
    Mr. Barnes: As I have already indicated, I do not think it is wise to deal with this problem hypothetically.

    Speed Limit, Burwash
    Colonel Clarkeasked the Minister of Transport why he has refused the urgent request of the Burwash Parish Council for an extension of the speed limit on A.265 through Burwash; whether he is aware that two fatal accidents, and other minor ones, have occurred on the stretch of road in question; and if he will reconsider his decision.
    Mr. Barnes: This section of road is not in a built-up area, and in my view the extension of the speed limit as proposed by the parish council would not be justified. My information is that there has been only one accident during the past four years and no fatal accidents during the past 16 years on this section of road.
    Colonel Clarke: Is the Minister aware of the deep anxiety that there is about this matter, particularly in view of the opening of a new housing estate abutting onto this road; and will he be prepared to have a local inquiry so that this apparent conflict of evidence can be resolved?
    Mr. Barnes: This has been very thoroughly examined, and my reply was a considered one.

    Humber (Crossing)
    Mr. Odeyasked the Minister of Transport whether he is now prepared to consider proposals for the construction of a bridge or a tunnel across the Humber.
    Mr. Barnes: No, Sir. I could not regard such a project as of sufficient priority to justify consideration at the present time.
    Mr. Odey: As the right hon. Gentleman is unable to take any immediate steps in this matter, will he at least ensure that the time-table of the ferry service across the Humber is greatly improved, and that the present exorbitant charges for cars are greatly reduced so that car drivers are encouraged to save the 40-mile detour on the journey from Hull to the South?
    Mr. Barnes: That appears to me to be an entirely different question from the one on the Order Paper.
    Captain Hewitson: Is my right hon. Friend aware that the hard core of 5,000 unemployed in Hull would be a very desirable labour pool with which to start such a project?

    Ferries (Report)
    Mr. Willisasked the Minister of Transport what steps have been taken to give effect to those recommendations of Part 3 of the Ferries Report which do not require legislation.
    Mr. Barnes: None, Sir. I am still considering these recommendations in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Scotland.
    Mr. Willis: As these recommendations have now been considered for something over a year, could my right hon. Friend say when some action is likely to result?
    Mr. Barnes: I would remind my hon. Friend that when the Ferries Committee was appointed I made it quite clear that it was for the purpose of gaining information, and not with a view of indicating widespread immediate Government action, because there was no information available about these ferries. However, certain recommendations have emerged which might be put into operation without legislation, and they are receiving examination.

  LONDON METAL MARKET
  Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Supply if he is now able to make a statement regarding the opening of the London Metal Exchange.
  The Minister of Supply (Mr. G. R. Strauss): No, Sir.
  Air-Commodore Harvey: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his attitude in this matter is responsible for lead being something like £37 a ton and zinc about £31 a ton higher in price in this country; and why does he not realise that this extraordinary attitude of mind is the greatest handicap producers can have in selling their goods abroad?
  Mr. Strauss: I do not accept the implications in that question a bit. If it were not for the fact that we have been bulk purchasing metals many of our manufacturers would have been without their raw materials.
  Mr. David Eccles: In view of the fact that His Majesty's Government are losing millions of Marshall dollars because of the contract prices for the second quarter for 4,500 tons of lead, 18,000 tons of copper and 18,000 tons of zinc, all purchased at prices well above existing world prices, will the Minister kindly reconsider this matter?
  Mr. Strauss: No, Sir, I still do not accept the implications put forward by the hon. Member. However, the question of the opening of the Metal Exchange is under review, but I have no statement to make about it at the moment.
  Mr. Martin Lindsay: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the prices of a number of British goods are now well above world prices for no other reason than that manufacturers cannot get their raw materials at world prices?
  Mr. Strauss: I think the number of goods concerned would be very small indeed.
  Mr. W. Fletcher: Is the Minister aware that when he was talking about the Liverpool Cotton Exchange recently he said that its re-opening and the extension of its use were under consideration; and will he now, after all these years, stop merely considering and open the Metal Exchange?
  Mr. Strauss: I never made any remark about the Liverpool Cotton Exchange.
  Air-Commodore Harvey: In view of the very unreasonable attitude of the

  1495
  Minister, I beg to give notice that I shall try to raise this matter on the Adjournment at a very early date.

  MINISTRY OF WORKS

    New House of Commons Chamber (Woodwork)
    Mr. Bossomasked the Minister of Works in view of the obvious defects revealed in the suggested finish for the woodwork of the new Chamber exhibited on the specimen door in the Tea Room, he will entirely reconsider the treatment for all the woodwork of the new Chamber of the House of Commons.
    Mr. Spearmanasked the Minister of Works if he is aware of the criticism of the proposed panelling in the new Chamber now being demonstrated in the Tea Room; and if he will consider substituting for it waxed oak in its natural state.
    The Minister of Works (Mr. Key): The colour of the oak will not be settled until the Advisory Committee have had the opportunity of expressing views on this and other samples.
    Mr. Bossom: Is the Minister aware that the acid in English oak prevents any artificial colouring put on at this stage lasting over a period of years, which means it is a certainty that in a few years' time, if the present treatment is carried on, we shall have a blotchy looking room?
    Mr. Key: I am aware that that opinion has been expressed. and consideration is being given to it. I am not yet able to take a decision.
    Mr. H. Strauss: Has anybody any objection to leaving wood in its natural state?
    Mr. Godfrey Nicholson: Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the Advisory Committee represents the opinion of this House; and are any means provided whereby the Advisory Committee can consult with hon. Members as a whole?
    Mr. Key: The purpose of putting exhibits of this oak in the various rooms is in order that the Advisory Committee
    1496
    may, by contact with hon. Members, get the general opinion of Members of the House.
    Mr. Nicholson: Has the right hon. Gentleman taken any steps to see that the Advisory Committee does so? It is not much good putting oak on view and then referring back to the Advisory Committee.
    Mr. Key: This matter was considered by the Advisory Committee, and it was on their suggestion that the exhibits were made. They know that the matter is to be reconsidered and are, therefore, getting the necessary information.
    Mr. Bossom: Could the Minister tell us how we can inform the Advisory Committee of this situation?
    Mr. Key: Yes. If the hon. Member will contact me I will give him the names of his hon. Friends who are on the Advisory Committee, and he can then get into touch with them.
    Mr. Nicholson: I beg to give notice that I shall at as early a date as possible call attention to the poor liaison between Members of the House and the Minister with regard to the new Chamber.

    Government Offices, Edinburgh (Site)
    Mr. Willisasked the Minister of Works whether a site has yet been acquired for the erection of the proposed new Government offices in Edinburgh; and when it is expected that preliminary work will be commenced.
    Mr. Key: Negotiations for the acquisition of a site for a temporary office building in Edinburgh are nearing completion. It is expected to start work on the site towards the end of this year.
    Mr. Emrys Hughes: Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that there is sufficient building labour available in Scotland for this extra work?
    Mr. Key: Yes, for this temporary building, certainly.
    Mr. Willis: Could the Minister say where the site is?
    Mr. Key: I am afraid I could not without notice.

  EMPLOYMENT (GOVERN-MENT POLICY)
  Mr. Frank Byersasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what specific plans for stimulating consumer demand and maintaining full employment are being prepared by the Government in case there is a trade recession in the autumn of this year.
  The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Douglas Jay): I would refer the hon. Member to what was said on this subject by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the course of his Budget speech. I am sending him a copy of the relevant extract.
  Mr. Byers: Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that in that speech there is no indication, as far as I remember, of any specific plans which are being prepared to deal with a possible recession, and that the knowledge that such plans did exist would play a very large part in preventing the building up of a psychological atmossphere which might lead to a slump?
  Mr. Jay: All sorts of specific plans do exist, but I do not think anything is to be gained by naming them until we know the type of recession, if any, with which we are faced.
  Mr. Spearman: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that our reserves have fallen so low during the life of this Government that it will be impossible to maintain employment by stimulating home demand, because we shall not be able to get the raw materials with which to do it?
  Mr. Jay: If the hon. Gentleman is thinking of our gold and dollar reserves, we have fulfilled our policy of holding them level at the point at which they stood when the Marshall Aid period began.
  Viscount Hinchingbrooke: Is the hon. Member aware of the enormous amount of latent consumer energy in our economy which is entirely masked by high taxation?

UNITED KINGDOM AND CANADA (TRADE)
The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. Philip Noel-Baker): As hon. Members will be aware, my right hon. Friend, the President of
1498
the Board of Trade, invited Mr. C. D. Howe, the Minister of Trade and Commerce in the Canadian Government, to visit this country and to speak at the Banquet of the British Industries Fair on 2nd May. During Mr. Howe's visit, Ministers had most valuable discussions with him about trade relations between this country and Canada. After a preliminary talk with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Howe had a series of meetings with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food, my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, and myself.
In these meetings we dealt with every aspect of our trade relations, and we discussed the fundamental problems involved in the increase of trade between our two countries. Mr. Howe explained his Government were naturally most anxious that United Kingdom purchases from Canada should be expanded; we made clear to Mr. Howe that our desire to purchase more Canadian goods was limited only by the difficulty of payment, and that that difficulty could most quickly be relieved by an increase in the purchase of British goods by dollar countries. Mr. Howe assured us that the Canadian Government would give every support to the export drive to Canada which we are at present making, and to further which my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, is leaving on a visit to Canada tomorrow.
The House will realise that in spite of our present difficulties we are still maintaining a high level of purchases from Canada. Our imports for the 12 months which will end in June this year will, it is estimated, total nearly 700 million dollars; they consist mainly of wheat, bacon, eggs and raw materials of many kinds. In addition, we now contemplate certain new purchases in 1949. We have informed Mr. Howe that we will purchase between three and four hundred thousand cases of canned salmon before the end of the year.
Special purchases of timber to the value of about 10 million dollars will be made in the United States and Canada, contracts being awarded on the basis of commercial considerations. These purchases will be over and above the amount of west coast timber which we are buying in the last half of 1949. We have further agreed that the quantity of flour

1499
to be bought from Canada under the provision of the Anglo-Canadian Wheat Agreement should, during the year 194950, amount to 400,000 tons. Limited purchases of Canadian apples and fruit pulp will also be made.
Our talks with Mr. Howe have been of great value in removing misunderstandings about our policy in regard to trade with North America. We hope that the additional purchases which we shall make will help to mitigate the difficulties that have been caused to Canada by our shortage of dollars. In any case, Mr. Howe's visit has made an important contribution to the understanding of our mutual problems, and I am sure that the House would wish me to express their gratitude to him for having come.
Mr. Oliver Stanley: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many people on all sides were disturbed at the stories of the worsening economic relations between ourselves and Canada and will therefore be very glad to hear that Mr. Howe's visit has had such a beneficial result and will hope for equally good results from the visit of the President of the Board of Trade to Canada? Is he also aware that there are many of us who think that, even granting the difficulties which the Government face at the moment, it will be a short-sighted policy to sacrifice the long-term benefits of inter-imperial and particularly Canadian trade to meet those particular difficulties of the moment?
Colonel Gomme-Duncan: Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House a little more information on the subject of flour? I think he mentioned the figure of 400,000 tons. Can he tell us whether that is an increase in flour as opposed to whole wheat? This is an important question in view of the feedingstuffs position.
Mr. Noel-Baker: I am afraid that I have not got all the figures, but I think it is rather more than we used to buy; it is a figure we have reached in agreement with Mr. Howe.
Mr. John E. Haire: Can my right hon. Friend say whether any consideration was given to the possibility of a short-term dollar loan from Canada?
Mr. Noel-Baker: I am afraid that that did not enter into our discussions.
Mr. Walter Fletcher: Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether during these
1500
negotiations the interests of the Colonies were considered, particularly such colonies as Malaya, which has a large trade with Canada, in view of the very unfortunate results over the bilateral agreement with Holland owing to the failure to consult the Colonies?
Mr. Noel-Baker: Yes, Sir. We have had very valuable discussions with Mr. Howe about that and hope it will lead to quite large results.
Mr. Harrison: In view of the fact that we made a specific declaration in these discussions that we were to increase our purchases from Canada, can my right hon. Friend give any indication whether Canada has undertaken to increase her purchases from us with a view to balancing our trade with Canada?
Mr. Noel-Baker: We got from Mr. Howe a promise, to which we attach the highest importance, that they will help to explain to Canadian purchasers why it is desirable to purchase British goods and to remove the difficulties.
Mr. Maclay: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the need for the greatest publicity throughout the length and breadth of Canada, because all the evidence is that there is a grave misunderstanding in all parts of Canada about the situation?
Mr. Noel-Baker: We do realise very acutely how much misunderstanding there has been in Canada, and that is why we so warmly welcomed Mr. Howe's visit and are so grateful to him for promising to help us.
Vice-Admiral Taylor: Can the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether we could not sell more of our goods to Canada and less to some of the countries in Europe, especially those that are unfriendly to us?
Mr. Noel-Baker: I think not. If the hon. and gallant Member has steel in mind, as probably he has, I would point out that we have made a very great increase in steel exports to Canada this year. They are now the highest single importer of our exports and we are sending them 85,000 tons this year, and if the supply position permits we shall perhaps send them a little more. The quantities we send to the other countries are small amounts which bring us a very big return in raw materials and goods we badly need.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

  IRON AND STEEL BILL
  [ALLOTTED DAY]
  Order for Third Reading read.
  3.38 p.m.
  Sir Waldron Smithers: On a point of Order. May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, for your guidance, on a point of which I gave you notice, before we come to consider the Third Reading of the Iron and Steel Bill, which has only got to its Third Reading by a strict use of the Guillotine? Can you, as Mr. Speaker, do anything to stop this country going another step down the totalitarian road and anything in defence of freedom of speech? I venture to submit that you have a precedent for this, because there is a picture in St. Stephen's Hall under which is written:
  "Sir Thomas More, as Speaker of the House of Commons, in spite of Cardinal Wolsey's imperious demands, refuses to grant King Henry VIII a subsidy without due Debate."
  I should like to ask, with great respect, whether you will be another Sir Thomas More, and if you can find anywhere in the rules and regulations of this House means by which you, as Mr. Speaker, can say that there has been an abuse of the powers of the Government? I should like to know what would happen if you said that you would leave the Chair and take away the Mace?
  Mr. Speaker: The hon. Member asks whether I can say anything about shortening of Debates. I am a servant of the House, and the House has decided, by Guillotine Motion, that the Debate must close at a certain hour. It would be very wrong if I disobeyed an order of the House, because my first duty is to see that the orders of the House are obeyed; I should be open to a vote of censure if I did anything to prevent the House doing anything otherwise. I was just a little alarmed when the hon. Member asked me to be another Sir Thomas More. I can assure him that I have no desire to lose my head.
  3.40 p.m.
  The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. Jack Jones): I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read the Third time."
  I should like to thank the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) for having put the House in such a good mood as to make my task possibly a little easier than it otherwise might have been. Before proceeding with my main argument may I be allowed to express, on behalf of my right hon. Friend and myself and, I believe, the House as a whole, regret at the continued absence of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the City of London (Sir A. Duncan). As the House is aware, the right hon. Gentleman is recovering from a serious illness rather more slowly than we should have wished, but I take this opportunity of expressing our sincere good wishes for his speedy and complete recovery.
  I am sure the House will agree that we have had a very healthy, prolonged and not too contentious Debate on this great Bill. At one time we were invited to believe, as was the country, that the introduction of this Bill would lead to immediate chaos within the iron and steel industry and that the country as a whole would rise en masse against it. Subsequent events, however, have proved the complete opposite to be the case. As the House is aware, the Government decided to apply the Guillotine procedure to this Bill and as one who attended practically every minute of the proceedings in Committee and on Report, I am convinced that had the Opposition made the best possible use of the time allocated to them, instead of indulging in somewhat long-drawn out arguments, every Clause in the Bill could have been discussed.
  Mr. Oliver Lyttelton: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Closure was not asked for once during the whole of the Committee proceedings?
  Mr. Jones: That may be true; nevertheless, I am convinced that if the Opposition had used the time allocated to them in the way in which it could have been used, every Clause in the Bill could have been discussed.
  I must place on record that 137 hours have so far been devoted to consideration of the Bill during its passage through the House and that the time spent on some Clauses has been greatly in excess of the

  1503
  time spent on similar Clauses in other nationalisation Measures. It may interest the House to know that the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Ivor Thomas)—whom I do not see in his place at the moment —calculated at the fourth Sitting of the Standing Committee, that if the Committee proceedings continued at the same pace as up to then no fewer than 1,320 Sittings would have been required to complete the Committee stage. This was the computation of an hon. Member whose mathematics I take more notice of than his political views. Given an average of as many as five sittings per week in a 35-week Parliamentary year, this would have meant 7½ years in which to get the Bill as far as the Report stage—
  Mr. Beverley Baxter: Very good, too.
  Mr. Jones: Had that been the case the Government would have been in power again and again by that time. I am sure the House will agree that the Government were right to adopt the Guillotine procedure.
  Sir Arthur Salter: It is most misleading to attempt to make an arithmetical calculation in this matter. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the same argument applies here as applied on the Transport Bill, where there was general agreement to discuss at length the major principles of many Clauses on the understanding that that discussion would not be repeated on Report?
  Mr. Jones: I do not wish to pick a quarrel with the right hon. Gentleman, who should be well versed in mathematical calculations, but if he will look at the Standing Committee Report of the fourth Sitting he will see that the hon. Member for Keighley said that much more time would be taken on the later stages of the Bill than on the earlier stages. However, I wish to pay tribute to the fact that, generally speaking, the proceedings in Committee were conducted in an atmosphere of good will. There was, on all sides, a desire to improve the Bill wherever improvements were found possible. [Laughter.] The right hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Lyttelton) always laughs when these statements are being made; he is a past master in the art of using phrases like "utter nonsense" and "ridiculous" about anything,
  1504
  unless it comes from the Opposition. It has been suggested by the Opposition that the Bill has been substantially rewritten since its introduction. But if a careful comparison is made of the Bill as it is now before the House, word by word, line by line and Clause by Clause, with the Bill as it was on introduction, it will be seen that this suggestion is completely without foundation. Amendments have been made to meet the serious views put forward by the Opposition—
  Viscount Hinchingbrooke: Four.
  Mr. Jones: Well, if there are only four it shows that only four serious points of view were put forward. In no sense can it be claimed that the Bill has been drastically altered. Clauses 2 and 3 have been modified to meet, partly at any rate, Opposition views, but the only Clause in respect of which the Opposition could reasonably claim that it has been re-written is Clause 6, and on that my right hon. Friend made it clear, on Second Reading, that it was his intention to put before the Committee a complete re-draft of the Clause after consultation with the various bodies concerned. Here I want to pay tribute to all the parties with whom we were in consultation—the appropriate trade associations, trade unions and others who helped us to redraft Clause 6. Those consultations were helpful, and we were grateful for that help. I should also like to pay a tribute to the Opposition and to consumer bodies concerned with that Clause—
  Mr. Lyttelton: Complete harmony.
  Mr. Jones: No, but there was useful discussion and there were many helpful suggestions. Incidentally, there is a point about Clause 41 which I should like to make clear. In using the words "loss or diminution of emoluments" in that Clause we are following the precedent of the Gas Act. Prolonged consideration was given by the Government to the proper phrasing necessary to deal with the compensation provisions of the Bill. It is however possible that the words "loss or diminution of emoluments" may not cover all the cases which may arise. In cases not completely covered by the Clause where serious hardship can be proved to have arisen out of the nationalisation of the industry, my right hon. Friend will expect the Iron and Steel

  1505
  Corporation and the publicly owned companies to act as all good and sympathetic employers would, and to make proper arrangements with the trade unions and other bodies concerned for consideration of all such cases.
  We on this side of the House are absolutely convinced that the Bill as now presented is workmanlike and can be effectively implemented to the advantage of production, of the efficiency of the industry and of the economic well-being of the nation. One cannot mention the word "production" without once again paying tribute to the magnificent achievement of the men and management in this great industry, an accomplishment which has been achieved right up to this very moment. Indeed, this morning's Press once again shows that production in the country was never on a higher level than in the month of April. We in this House should never allow an opportunity to pass of paying public tribute to the magnificent effort of this industry.
  Mr. Lyttelton: Under private enterprise.
  Mr. Jones: Yes, under private enterprise, but also under a firm promise by this Socialist Government to nationalise the industry. The Opposition always seek—and I make no complaint of it—to belittle the statement I made in my Second Reading speech, when I said it was because of this Government's determined policy and of the request of the men in the industry for public ownership and control, that the workers in that industry gave to the Socialist Government and to the country this very fine achievement, including a seven-day week without parallel in the world. Definite statements have been made by Members of the Opposition that some of the present managers of the industry would find it difficult to accept service in the industry under this Bill, but I am confident that such statements are completely without foundation and are a libel on those very fine, patriotic men, many of whom I know personally and many of whom welcome this Bill to a far greater extent than the Opposition suspects.
  The Bill, to use a word which my right hon. Friend so often used in Committee, is a flexible one. It provides for easy transfer to public ownership and the change over will not interfere with the current expansion of the industry. It
  1506
  enables an integrated policy to be brought about in the best interests of the management, workers and consumers, and will undoubtedly prevent many of the evils of the past occurring again. This is not the time nor the place to weary the House about the evils of the past. I am concerned now with the future of the industry. I could speak of those evils at great length, but that is not my intention. I trust we shall never see such conditions as were to be seen in the inter-war years and the effect they had upon the lives of those primarily engaged in this industry and upon the country. We cannot interfere with steel production without interfering with shipbuilding, engineering and other ancillary trades.
  The Bill will further the Government's policy of directing our production in the best possible way in the interests of our economic recovery. It will ensure that we shall continue to maintain good relationships between management and men, something which is an example not only to this country but to the world at large. I have had some personal interest in bringing this relationship about, over many years. On expansion and output one could speak at great length, but here all I wish to say is that this Bill provides also for the scientific training and education of personnel. When I talk about personnel I do not mean the fellow at the top, but the man who shows initiative and desire, who will get the opportunity denied him in the past, of rising right from the bottom.
  It is not my intention to use the time of the House to deal with the details of the Bill. Very few details of any consequence have been left without debate and consideration, and it is because I believe that this Bill is in the best interests of the country that I support it. There has been some criticism of the Bill from one of the major unions concerned. [Interruption]. The Opposition need not shake their heads and interrupt, because this criticism is that the Government's proposals should have been far more drastic. That is the only criticism we have had from all the unions concerned and it came from one particular area which I shall not name. They complained that the Bill left far too much power in the hands of those who at the moment are controlling and guiding this great industry. However, speaking generally, the overwhelming majority of those whose interests lie

  1507
  nearest the industry are in favour of the Bill. I myself attended a public meeting at Consett last night—it has been my duty to get round the country at week-ends particularly to the steel areas—and there I found that this Bill was supported by men representative of a wide area.
  Mr. George Thomas: What area was the criticism from?
  Mr. Jones: We got the criticism from the Scottish area where they think we have not gone far enough. The iron and steel workers, those grand men, who along with their managements will be called upon to play the major part will, I know, through their industry, again rededicate themselves to the services of our country. With the assurance of goodwill from all other interested sections of the community, this Bill can safely be sent on its way. I wish it Godspeed, and I ask confidently for the support of this House for it.
  3.59 p.m.
  Mr. Oliver Lyttelton: I beg to move to leave out "now," and at the end of the Question to add, "upon this day six months."
  If this Bill leaves for another place this evening, it will leave unwept, unhonoured and undiscussed. The Government are about to ring down their particular form of iron curtain on this Parliamentary farce. The Parliamentary Secretary quoted some figures; I will give some, too. On Report, 109 out of 214 Opposition Amendments were guillotined, and in Committee, of the 480 Opposition Amendments, 198 were guillotined. No fewer than seven Clauses were not discussed at any stage of the proceedings; sixteen Clauses and six Schedules were not discussed in Committee, and 11 were not discussed on Report. Everyone knows that, mathematics or not, the Bill has not been discussed fully enough. I said a minute ago that this was a Parliamentary farce; it is nearly a Parliamentary tragedy.
  Mr. Chetwynd: The right hon. Gentleman has said that the Bill was not discussed in Committee. I have counted all the speeches made in Committee, not including the interruptions, and I find the Opposition made 698, which works out at 35 speeches each. The Government made 390. The
  1508
  right hon. Gentleman himself made 90. Is he now trying to tell us that the Committee had not the time to discuss the Bill?
  Mr. Lyttelton: The hon. Gentleman is perfectly aware that about two-thirds of the time of the Committee was occupied by the Opposition and one-third by the Government. He has gone so far as to count the number of interjections as if they were speeches.
  Mr. Chetwynd: No, excluding interjections.
  Mr. Lyttelton: It is undeniable that 198 out of 480 Amendments were undiscussed in Committee and that 109 on the Report stage were guillotined. If hon. Members opposite think that is adequate discussion, we say they are welcome to it.
  Sir A. Salter: Will my right hon. Friend add, to complete his argument, that the Bill was guillotined out of this House when there was no pressure on Parliamentary time whatsoever, and the purpose must therefore have been to suppress debate for the purpose of suppressing debate?
  Mr. Lyttelton: I was coming to that point a little later. This is no minor Bill which is railroaded through all stages of Parliamentary discussion. It is a Bill which has been proclaimed by hon. Members on the other side as marking the end of an epoch.
  Mr. G. Thomas: Hear, hear.
  Mr. Lyttelton: The hon. Member below the Gangway reinforces my statement. The Bill has been proclaimed in triumph as the end of private enterprise as we have known it, the private enterprise which has developed our trade and our Empire, and indeed the fame of this country, in the past. The hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks), who is not at the moment in his place, has assumed the role of tricoteuse at the foot of the guillotine. How he must have chuckled as Clause after Clause was decapitated. The Bill—and everyone must realise it —has not been guillotined to make room for more urgent business. There has been any amount of time, as my right hon. Friend the Member for Oxford University (Sir A. Salter) has just said. The Bill has been guillotined, and discussion has been curtailed, for the first time

  1509
  since the Mace was removed by force from this Chamber, in order, not to promote further discussion on more urgent Measures, but because the Government consider further discussion of this Measure impertinent, inconvenient or inappropriate, or perhaps merely fatiguing. I do not know which. We are asked to give the Bill a Third Reading against a background of great uncertainty, a general background of uncertainty. The economic position of this country is no more than convalescent. That convalescence is due to the generosity of the United States.
  Mr. Percy Wells: Not entirely.
  Mr. Lyttelton: Not entirely, of course, but without the generosity of the United States we could not make a general recovery. If the hon. Member wishes for authority, let him look at the Economic White Paper or at the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in which the right hon. and learned Gentleman said that we should have had 1½ million unemployed in this country at the moment if it had not been for Marshall Aid.
  I say, and we on this side say, that it is not the action of wise, prudent or honest men to launch an untried experiment on this scale and to gamble at this time with the national recovery, with other people's money. Let us be quite sure about that. The Bill is the biggest gamble in State ownership that has ever been seen here or in any other part of the world. It is not only going to wrench from its bed-plate the iron and steel industry, but it will affect the pattern, design and structure of almost every industry in the country. If the Government were to stop their projects of nationalisation of public services or utilities, it would be very difficult but not impossible for private enterprise to retain the initiative, contrivance and boldness with which the country would regain its position in the world. If the Government are to add steel, the principal raw material of industry, then I say that private enterprise cannot exist as we have known it.
  Private enterprise cannot exist if the Government are going to compete in a great variety of industries with the taxpayer, using the taxpayers' own money. That is where the money comes from to feed and to fan the competition. Private enterprise cannot compete when the
  1510
  allocation and priorities of raw materials will be made, as they must inevitably, in favour of Government plants and Government factories. It is quite true that we have introduced words into the Bill to try to reduce that discrimination, but it is impossible, when the crunch comes, for the Government to prevent themselves from favouring Government plant and Government users, from giving them Government steel, and from keeping those outside the embrace of the Government shorter than their own concerns.
  During the six months or so that the Bill has been going through the House, I have become pretty familiar with it. I can only say that familiarity has bred contempt. We indict the Bill for a number of reasons, which I must discuss shortly. We indict it first of all because it sets up a State monopoly which will be far worse than any evils which hon. Members have ever imagined could attend private monopoly. We indict it because there is no scheme in the Bill. The Parliamentary Secretary made a speech on general lines. It was very short and, coming from one with great knowledge of the industry, it was listened to with respect and attention by the House. I would only say that I hope he will not mistake asseveration for argument. He said that in his opinion the Bill would promote production. There is nothing in the Bill, as there was nothing in the discussion or in the Debate, to substantiate that. Perhaps the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) will give us the number of times that the Minister spoke during the Committee stage, if he has it there?
  Mr. Chetwynd: Yes, Sir. The Government made 390 speeches, of which the Minister made 131, in reply to the questions which he was asked by the other side.
  Mr. Lyttelton: I am much obliged to the hon. Member for his information about the 131 speeches. I defy him or any other hon. Member to find one speech on the subject of how production is to be increased by the Bill. We condemn the Bill also because State monopoly has to arm itself with a series of the most restrictive measures that man and the Parliamentary draftsman can devise. We condemn the Bill because there is no Parliamentary control. No Parliamentary control has been thought out. Of course,

  1511
  Parliament remains in the background, but at this moment no system of Parliamentary control has been thought out.
  Hon. Members are quite at liberty to think that I am putting forward my next point for party reasons, if they wish, but I hold it very sincerely and I am going to state it frankly. It is that State control will undermine the system of negotiation of wages and conditions which has been built up for so long. It will undermine, and spell the doom of, the trade union movement in this basic industry. We have two final indictments. The first is: Why 1st May, 1950? That date is too early to be practical and, from a constitutional viewpoint, is too slippery. Lastly, the compensation terms of the Bill are unfair and, in one respect, openly violate a solemn pledge given by the Government.
  I will not detain the House a minute longer than I can help, but I must address myself to some of the points I have mentioned. The first is about State monopoly. It will bring evils much worse than private monopoly, for three reasons. The first and obvious reason is that State monopoly is much larger, much more comprehensive and much more powerful than any private combination can be. Secondly, the consumer has no protection. The public have no protection whatever against their own Government. Thirdly, State monopoly will lead to a loss of exports. Let hon. Members face that point. Once State-owned products are in question, they become counters in foreign policy or in political policy. Mutatis mutandis, let us remember, that is what happened to meat in the Argentine. Meat is a government-owned commodity in the Argentine. It is government-owned because that is the natural reaction to bulk-buying and bulk-selling. It is a political counter. If steel is made into a State-produced and State-owned metal, it will follow the same course as meat and will become a political counter. It will lead to a loss of exports.
  The second main indictment is that there is no plan—not even a pretext—in the Bill or the Debate as to how production is to be handled and certainly not how it is to be increased. The more ingenuous defenders of the Bill say that it does not mean anything and that everything will go on in the same way in
  1512
  the future as it did before the Bill was introduced, but in the 95 pages, the 60 Clauses and the nine closely-printed Schedules the Bill is silent on the only matter which really counts. There is nothing there about the volume of production, nothing about the cost of production and nothing about organisation and control. There is virtually silence on all these matters. I must not be unfair. I must say that there is one saving Clause which I must read to the House, the notorious Clause 31, which says:
  "It shall be the duty of the Corporation so to exercise and perform their functions under this Act as to secure that the combined revenues of the Corporation and all the publicly-owned companies taken together are not less than sufficient to meet their combined outgoings properly chargeable to revenue account, taking one year with another."
  Solomon comes to judgment! What a comfort to have a statutory right never to be able to make a loss—but a comfort only to the supine and inefficient!, Here is no incentive to the energetic or the enterprising. If the prices here are higher than in the rest of the world, if an economic storm is blowing, the Corporation can creep back to the comfortable shelter of this Clause—"taking one year with another." For sheer fatuity the Clause is almost unequalled, although it takes its place in other nationalisation Measures.
  However short and inadequate the discussion of the Bill has been, there has at least been time for the Government to deploy some plan as to how the industry would work, but no plan has been discernible even to the most perfervid supporter of the Government. The Bill is not concerned with the future in any way. It is merely a Bill to change ownership and to create—and perhaps properly create—new offences for dissipation of assets which may take place under nationalisation. Hon. Members who look at the arrangement of Clauses on the outside of the Bill will see that what I say is absolutely correct. This is not a Bill concerned with business or industry; it is just politics, and shabby politics at that.
  The third indictment I make is that there are in the Bill no effective safeguards for consumers. It is true that in the course of the proceedings on the Bill the Opposition succeeded, by agreement with the Government, in improving the

  1513
  Consumers' Council, its constitution, its terms of reference, and so forth. What has emerged is an advisory body with plenty of wind but no weapons. Against private monopoly or private restrictive practices the public are able to appeal to the Government—recently we passed an Act which extended and formalised the scrutiny which the Government may exercise over so-called private monopolies—but against the State monopoly the Consumers' Council is the only weapon which the consumer can deploy, and that weapon will be remote, ineffective and toothless. It is necessary for me to repeat that, as a party, we do not believe that the industry should be entirely uncontrolled. Government ownership, no; control, yes. I thought that everyone knew that for 15 years the price list of the steel industry has been under Government control.
  Mr. J. Jones indicated assent.
  Mr. Lyttelton: I see that the hon. Gentleman nods his head in agreement with me, but if he reads the speeches of his hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. S. Silverman) on the fourth day of the Report stage, he will be left in doubt whether the hon. Member, who was conducting a private vendetta with an hon. Friend of mine at the time, realised that the present system under which the iron and steel industry is run is not an "undirected monopoly," which was one of the phrases he used. During the course of the Bill, we proposed to set up a prices board. That proposal had less than 10 minutes' discussion and it was summarily dismissed by the Minister. It would at least have introduced an expert body between the Minister, the Corporation and the consumer, but, in the interests of flexibility, of course, the Minister could not accept it. In this context, "flexibility" seems to be dangerously near a synonym for "autocracy." It is part of our indictment that there is no safeguard to the consumers.
  The Government have armed themselves with great restrictive weapons. There is to be no production without licence. I remember saying, when the Australian cricket team were here last year, that when they came again cricket would probably be nationalised and no centuries would he allowed without a licence, and no maidens without a coupon. This is where we are getting
  1514
  now in this Bill—no production without a licence in a country which is calling for higher production. A peak limit is put upon production. No new entrants are to be allowed into this industry unless the State monopoly, the Corporation, has been consulted, and if they get past that, the licence will have restrictions as to both time and tonnage. All this is to be in the hands of that flexible Minister whose reply this evening we await with attention. He has set up a sort of producers' and consumers' penitentiary in this matter.
  I come now to Parliamentary control. The 101 companies have been acquired and put into what the Minister calls "public ownership." It is necessary for one minute to consider what the words "public ownership" mean. They mean the taking away of the property of some hundreds of thousands of shareholders and concentrating it in the hands of the bureaucracy and the Minister. To put it another way, the phrase means changing a disseminated and dispersed power for a very concentrated power in the hands of the Minister and one or two of his advisers. I suggest that such a concentration, which is always bad and vicious, becomes quite intolerable unless it is accompanied by proper Parliamentary control. Does any hon. Member, in any part of the House, in his heart of hearts think that the relationship between the House of Commons and any nationalised Corporation has yet been worked out? All hon. Members know that the answer to that question is "No." Why, even now we do not know what Questions are likely to be accepted concerning the day-to-day workings of the Corporation. The widest powers are taken by the Minister and the question of Parliamentary control has been left to work itself out in a way which we cannot yet guess.
  I repeat that State ownership will mean the end of negotiation upon wages and working conditions as we have known it and will spell the doom of the trade union movement in this basic industry.
  Mr. J. Jones indicated dissent.
  Mr. Lyttelton: The Parliamentary Secretary shakes his head, but does he deny that the trade union strength is largely based upon the desire and necessity for improved wages and working conditions? Does he deny that the principal power

  1515
  and influence of the unions are the sanction of the strike, which is legalised in this country, and their power derived from the development of the machinery of negotiations between wage-payers and wage-earners, which, as the hon. Gentleman rightly said, is the envy of the world? Does he really suppose that that can continue when the only wage-payers are the Government? How can the trade unions expect to exert the same pressure on an all-powerful and remote Government in Whitehall as they have been accustomed to exert upon the private employer? There are laws which prevent the assembly of large bodies of people in the precincts of the palace of Westminster, but no laws of any kind prevent the assembly of people outside the offices of employers.
  Mr. J. Jones: A very pointed question has been asked in regard to the relationship of the trade unions. As a practical man, I cannot see why, if it is possible for an entity to be set up by Steel House and successful negotiations conducted therewith, we should not have successful trade union negotiation with an entity set up by this House.
  Mr. Lyttelton: The hon. Member is really too ingenuous. The Government are the employers in one case and a private combination in the other. In negotiations, however they may be conducted, with a private combination at least there is an appeal to the Government in the event of one side or the other not getting its way in the negotiations. But to whom is the trade union to appeal if it considers that redress and change is necessary and it has not been granted by the Government?
  Mr. Popplewell Mr. Popplewell (Newcastle upon Tyne, West) rose—
  Mr. Lyttelton: I must be allowed to make my own speech. Of course, the hon. Member realises the point, but I say with every sincerity that the distance which separates strikes—the ultimate power, influence and sanction of the trade unions against the State—from treason is not so great.
  Mr. J. Jones: Nonsense, rubbish.
  Mr. Lyttelton: The hon. Gentleman is quite entitled to say "rubbish," but he will find it is absolutely true that, whereas
  1516
  a man can strike without any fear against the private employer, he cannot strike against the Government without breaking the law.
  Mr. Beswick: What are they doing in Lancashire at the moment?
  Mr. Lyttelton: If the hon. Gentleman says that illegal strikes are taking place there, I agree. I only say that where in any one industry the Government are the only employers, to strike against the Government is not far distant from treasonable action. There is no appeal to an impartial Government as there is where the industry is not nationalised. The Government are impartial when they are not engaged in the industry; when they are engaged in the industry, it would take a great deal of explanation even from the hon. Member below the Gangway, to show how the Government are impartial. In this case the Government are judge, advocate and jury in their own case, and there is only one refuge throughout the whole of this system, the ballot box. The Government will find that the public will protect itself with the only means left, that is, the ballot box, before long.
  There are two final reasons why we condemn the Bill. Why is 1st May, 1950, the vesting date? It may be that the Bill will not become law until February, 1950. The Government must be obliged by the nature of things to consider the worst date from their point of view, and that is February, 1950. Between that and the vesting date there are only two months, and only the framework of this scheme could be formulated by the most ingenious people within that time. We shall not know within those two months who is willing to go on serving the new Corporation, and what terms they will accept. Therefore, from a practical point of view, 1st May is much too soon.
  If the Government think they have any electoral chances whatever on 1st May, eight or nine weeks before the latest date when this Government must cease to exist, why not 1st October or 1st January? If there are no Socialists in power then, there will be nothing to undo; if the Socialists are in power then, they will have plenty of time in which to launch their experiment when they have had time to think how it will work. The baby is bound to be born in the vestry, it is bound to be born on the way to the polling booth or on the

  1517
  way back, and no one in a few years' time will be anxious to claim the paternity.
  Lastly, we condemn the Bill because the terms of compensation are unfair and, in one respect, they break a solemn promise. The Financial Secretary said that the pledge has been carried out up to the hilt. The sword has been passed through the pledge up to the hilt, I give him that. I ask hon. Members to pay particular attention to the pledge, which was this:
  "…whatever the final method and basis adopted, proper allowance will be made in assessing compensation for the results of any expenditure incurred from now onward, on approved schemes of development or rehabilitation."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th May, 1946; Vol. 423, c. 853.]
  Now, the Stock Exchange quotations take no account of unfructified capital expenditure, nor do they take account fully of current earnings. If the hon. Member disagrees with that, he disagrees with the Council of the Stock Exchange, who are not a political body and are on record to this effect. If, however, the pledge did mean Stock Exchange values, why did it not say so? Why did it not say, "Do not worry, you can put your capital into this business in the assurance that in a couple of years' time we will take you over at Stock Exchange values in order that the value of your unfructified capital may be contained in the compensation terms''? Why was that not the pledge? I will tell the House why it was not the pledge. It was not what was meant. The pledge does not mean that now, and never has meant that. What the pledge means is, "Apart from any current valuation of current assets, we will add a sum to that current valuation in order to compensate you for any capital expenditure which you may have made between this date and the time when these companies are expropriated under this Bill."
  Mr. Popplewell: Wishful thinking.
  Mr. Lyftelton: It is indeed wishful thinking to imagine that in this case the Government will honour their pledge. Instead of the pledge being honoured, all that is left is a piece of shabby political casuistry and chicanery. These are the indictments made against the Bill. The only argument put up in its favour by the Government would run something
  1518
  like this—I hope I am not being unfair: "The industry now works under Government control of prices to make profits for private shareholders, but if this Bill becomes law, it will work only in the public interest."
  Mr. George Porter indicated assent.
  Mr. Lyttelton: The hon. Member nods his head. That has been the parrot cry throughout the Bill "It will only be worked in the public interest." I find it difficult to accept an argument as naïve as that. If Ministers of this or any other Government could ascertain with precision what was the public interest, what would be the need for the House of Commons, except to come here once or twice a year to pass votes of thanks to Ministers who had run public affairs always in the public interest? The nature of politics and of the problem of Government is that there is great uncertainty about what is 'the public interest. Perhaps hon. Members do not think so? Let me give a couple of instances.
  Suppose it were decided to raise the price of steel in order to increase wages; I can imagine some hon. Members opposite thinking that it was very much in the public interest, but would the Chancellor of the Exchequer think it was in the public interest? He would, I think, describe it as inflation, and has, in fact, so described it. There was one instance when the President of the Board of Trade wanted to lower wages and the price of steel in order to help the export drive. Would that be in the public interest?
  Mr. Mitchison: Does Steel House always know the public interest?
  Mr. Lyttelton: How refreshing it is to find the hon. and learned Member really understanding what is being said—for almost the first time. If Steel House is not acting in the public interest, there is Government control of prices and a Government to which the country can appeal; but if the Government own the industry the whole thing becomes one. The hon. and learned Gentleman has mistaken the point.
  What about the consumer in all these matters? I do not want to be critical of the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, for he is a character we all respect, but he

  1519
  has chosen to take part in these controversies and must take the consequences. He said on Report stage:
  "The hon. and gallant Member …tried to make an argument that consumer interest is not the same as public interest. hat is something new to me."
  Later he said:
  "The two terms 'consumer interest' and 'public interest' are synonymous, to my simple mind."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th April, 1949; Vol. 464, c. 282–23.]
  That seems to me to be a really startling statement from someone who prides himself, and rightly so, on having been a steel worker for, I think, over 30 years. It is an extraordinary thing to hear from an hon. Member who has spent 30 years as a steel worker that the consumer's interest is synonymous with the public interest. Is not the public interest something to do with the producer as well as the consumer? According to the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, apparently not. Of course, as everyone knows, the producer interests are, if anything, the most important of all, because upon them and their success depends not only our present standard of life, but our chances of improving it.
  We ask from this side of the House that the Bill should be rejected because it sets up a State monopoly of the worst kind. It has no plan for production, and no pretext of a plan has been put forward upon which production can be improved. It restricts entrants into the industry and places restrictive peaks upon the production of those who are inside the industry but outside the Government scheme. There are no safeguards to consumers that are effective; those which are given are mere verbiage. It will undermine the trade union influence in the industry. The vesting date is too early, and the compensation terms are in some respects inadequate and in other respects fraudulent and an open breach of the Government's pledge. Finally, we say that the Bill is a gamble, with other people's money, with the chances of national recovery.
  4.33 p.m.
  Mr. Mort: It is always a pleasure to me personally and to the House generally to listen to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Aldershot (Mr. Lyttelton). I did so
  1520
  throughout the whole of the Committee stage. This afternoon, however, I think that he was making rather heavy weather over what has been described as the Guillotine, as far as it affects this Bill. I should explain the situation in this way. I do not think that the Government used the Guillotine out of an evil desire either to squash discussion or to shorten the passage of the Bill. The right hon. Gentleman and hon. Gentlemen behind him must admit that if the Government had not instituted this procedure, which I do not like, it would never have been possible for us to get the Bill in the available Parliamentary time.
  Mr. Lyttelton: Rubbish.
  Mr. Mort: Having sat through all the meetings of the Committee and never once broken its silence, perhaps I can give my point of view of what has been described as "rubbish." The right hon. Gentleman used a cricket simile a little earlier, and I shall do the same. The right hon. Gentleman made very poor use of his position as captain of his team. He included the wrong bowlers; in fact, too many of his side gave catches to the Opposition, but instead of being put aside and sent back to the pavilion, they were allowed to continue making these mistakes throughout the proceedings. I am sure that on the next occasion when he is captain of a side which is going through Committee the right hon. Gentleman will realise the force of what I am saying.
  The right hon. Gentleman said that the nationalisation of the steel trade means the end of private enterprise. As far as the steel trade is concerned, that is true. We do not retract from that. The real position is that we, on our opposing sides, view industry from different standpoints. To us on this side, industry has other functions to perform than that of providing profits for people who invest money. With our programme for establishing a Socialist economy, we could not leave out of the structure such a cornerstone as the steel trade. It was bound to come in; it must of necessity do so. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that in the steel trade we are establishing a State monopoly. I do not like monopolies, either State or otherwise, but we must deal with circumstances as we see them.

  1521
  How are we to deal with a monopoly like the steel trade except by taking it over? Are we to control it, to give it orders or do what has been done across the water, to introduce an Anti-Trust Law? No, that is not the remedy. When an industry reaches the dimensions which the steel trade has attained—and all credit to them; nobody denies that they have had the finest brains in the world—there comes a time when the Government of a country must take a decision and say, "What are we to do with this? Is it to be allowed to grow still more, or must we step in?"
  Mr. Lyttelton: Did the hon. Gentleman say, "Must we stop it"?
  Mr. Mort: Great play has been made by the right hon. Gentleman about there being nothing in the Bill—
  Mr. Lyttelton: The hon. Gentleman gave a "sharp glance to slip" when he said that the object of the Government coming into the steel industry was to stop it growing. I should describe that as a distinct glance.
  Mr. Mort: If I did make a "snick" I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that I did not mean that the Government would come in and stop it growing.
  Like the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, I speak as one who has spent all his industrial life in the steel trade. I know the industry from both the management and operating sides, and I am sure the House will allow me to strike a personal note. Having spent over 35 years in the industry, although in a very minor capacity, I feel today a great pride in being able to say a few words upon what I consider to be a great occasion for the steel trade. I lived and worked in the steel trade in the old days and I could give a recital this afternoon of what happened. There is no purpose in doing so, but I could give such a recital, particularly of what happened in South Wales and the warning that no body of men must ever have the power to reinstitute such conditions as those which existed in those far-off days. I am not suggesting, and it is not the argument of the Government, that because this industry has become incompetent or is run by a lot of people who have no consideration for building up trade, it should be nationalised. That is a contrary view and I do not blame
  1522
  hon. Members opposite for having that view. The Opposition idea is that we must establish Socialism only with the ragged ends of the capitalist system. A man once said to me, "We do not mind the municipality owning the sewers and such things, but to run the trams, oh no."
  We approach the matter differently. We say the steel trade has become competent. I have seen all the plants and great credit is due to the pioneers, but now, through the assistance of Governments, it has grown into a perfected organisation. We give them credit for that, yes, but we say that the time has now arrived when the people of this country should step in. There was once a co-operative committee which had to sack a man from the bread round, because he never made a mistake. It was uncanny and unnatural. They sacked him and found that he was not only delivering bread, but running a book as well. There is a time in the life of industries and of people when they may become "too perfect" and when their perfection becomes a danger to the State.
  Fears have been expressed about what is to happen. Just who makes steel in this country? Is it the shareholders, the stockholders, in talking of whose interests the Opposition have used most of the time in Committee? I regret that there was not an occasional word about the people who really produce steel. Steel is produced in the plants and will be produced in the plants. What is going to happen when the nation owns this great industry? The people in the industry today, the technicians and the workers, will still be there instead of the shareholders meeting quarterly and reading their "Financial Times." We, the people of this country, will look on the steel trade as a trade, making a great contribution.
  I know the men working in the steel industry. Those are the men, as the Parliamentary Secretary said, who volunteered, without any request being made to them, to work a seven-day week when the atmosphere in the industrial world was in favour of a five-day week. Those men are not going to let the nation down. I tell the Government now, and they know they can do it, to put their trust in the steel worker. He will deliver the goods. He does not shout from the house-

  1523
  tops. The steel worker, as a rule, is not a great talker. This plan has been formulated and passed through its many stages and now the Bill has reached Third Reading, I express my personal pleasure and hope that it will be passed.
  4.45 p.m.
  Mr. Maclay: The hon. Member for East Swansea (Mr. Mort) has obviously spoken with sincerity, but I have the horrible feeling that the speech he has been making is the kind of speech he makes at weekends elsewhere. The hon. Member says that he sat through the Committee on the Steel Bill. I also sat through that Committee as far as I could and through the Second Reading and the Debate two years ago. It is clear that the hon. Member has not understood what was happening or has failed to listen to the arguments which have been made, but have never been answered by his party. It is desperately serious if a critical industry like this is to have its future determined on the basis of a complete misunderstanding of the facts.
  I would not for a moment accuse hon. Members opposite of a deliberate distortion of the facts, but I think they genuinely misunderstand them. There are some things which must be explained, even at this late stage. The whole origin of this Bill must be the original mandate in "Let Us Face the Future." If I repeat what is said there and show how it is a completely false prospectus, I hope that hon. Members may change their minds this afternoon about supporting the Bill, or that at least they will go back to their constituencies and talk facts, not things which are completely untrue. The original mandate on which the Bill is based said:
  "PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF IRON AND STEEL.
  Private monopoly has maintained high prices and kept inefficient high-cost plants in existence. Only if public ownership replaces private monopoly can the industry become efficient."
  That is the basis on which the hon. Member made his speech and on which the Government brought forward the Bill. I suggest that not one word of those five lines I have read would stand up to a minute's examination as being true. These points have been raised and discussed throughout the various stages of the Bill and the Government have completely failed to make their case on
  1524
  the fundamental points on which they brought forward the Bill.
  I think it is reasonable to try to get clarity into people's thinking about the facts before we give the Bill its Third Reading. If hon. Members approach the Bill today in any light-hearted spirit as a piece of party loyalty they are carrying the greatest conceivable responsibility. Possibly more than any other nationalisation Bill, this Bill strikes at the fundamental structure of the economic life of our country. Hon. Members opposite should be absolutely certain of two things before they vote in favour. One is that they are properly interpreting the authority they have from the country and the other that what they are doing has some reasonable prospect—I put it as low as that—of being in the national interest.
  The right hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Lyttelton) has given a most admirable survey of basic reasons in general and in detail of why we oppose this Measure. I am anxious to concentrate on the wrong basis on which the Bill is founded as exemplified in the quotation I have read from "Let Us Face the Future." That speaks of private monopoly. Are conditions of dangerous private monopoly likely to be flourishing, when 100 major firms and something more than 2,000 firms in all are involved in the production of iron and steel, each working under a system which has the strongest incentive to efficiency? Prices have been fixed, not, as hon. Members opposite have repeatedly said, on the basis of the costs of inefficient firms, but, according to the Import Duties Advisory Committee Report of 1937, where this is clearly set out, on an average of the costs of efficient firms. Does that sound like a dangerous monopoly? Hon. Members may argue ad nauseam, but it is not so.
  There is another test which can be used to find if this is a restrictive monopoly. Surely one would expect evidence of high prices relative to the production of other countries and rising prices relative to the cost of other comparable materials in this country; evidence also of poor output, or certainly not a steadily rising output in relation to production in other countries. We must look at the facts, because if these charges are not maintained hon. Members opposite have the gravest responsibility if they pass the Bill.
  Let us look at the production figures. We have heard a good deal about the "appalling conditions" in the steel industry; the hon. Member for East Swansea said something to that effect. It must be remembered that this industry had to expand in an unnatural way in the 1914–18 war in order to meet war demands. It was left after the war to face completely uncontrolled competition from low wage countries and even in some cases subsidising countries. It was not until 1932 that it had a chance to pull itself together. I assume that the charge of monopoly, which is so sweepingly made, arises from that date onwards. Let us look at what happened. In 1933 production was seven million tons, in 1936 it was 11 million tons and in 1939 it was 13 million tons. We all know the figures of today; production is running at about 16 million tons.
  Even those figures of rising output are not necessarily proof. I suggest that the real proof is in comparison with the output figures in the world generally and in other countries in particular. Do hon. Members realise that between 1929 and 1937, the period when this so-called wicked monopoly must be assumed to have been doing its worst, there was a world increase in the production of steel of 11 per cent.? During that period production in the United States of America decreased by 10 per cent. whereas in the United Kingdom production increased by no less than 35 per cent. Does that sound like a monopoly, working viciously?
  Mr. Awbery: Will the hon. Member tell us what was the increase in production in the United States between 1900 and 1929, which he will find to be different from what he now says?
  Mr. Maclay: I am sticking strictly to this fraudulent prospectus on which the whole Bill is based; it talks about a period of monopoly. I do not think that the United States figures in the period which the hon. Member mentions are relevant. The fact is, I repeat, that during the period I have mentioned our output increased by 35 per cent. That does not sound very much like a vicious monopoly, particularly if one continues and relates what happened in regard to prices. I apologise for doing this, but
  1526
  it must be done. I do not believe that hon. Members opposite have studied the available facts of this matter before coming to their conclusions.
  Let us look at the price position. Right through the 1930's British steel became increasingly competitive with the production of every other country in the world. In Belgium, for example, in 1930, heavy plates were being produced at £2 3s. per ton cheaper than in the United Kingdom. What had happened by 1939, whilst this vicious monopoly, so-called, was exercising its baleful influence? Already by that date our price for heavy plates was 7s. 3d. per ton below that of Belgium. Those are striking figures. Our next nearest competitor at that point was France, and our price was 35s. 4d. per ton below theirs. Those are facts which cannot be controverted, and I hope that hon. Members will carefully study them.
  We can also turn to the Board of Trade index of wholesale prices to see what happened in relation to domestic prices. Taking 1938 as a base year, whereas every other comparable commodity had risen in price in 1939, the price of steel had fallen in this country in that year. These are clear facts. It is hardly necessary to say how our prices today compare with world prices. In the case of practically every steel product we are cheaper than anyone else in the world. Against that there is the mandate on which so much has been based, and on which so much talk has been heard. All the charges about private monopoly maintaining high prices do not stand up to examination for one second in the light of these facts. I hope that if any hon. Members opposite deny those facts, they will take the opportunity to do so now or later in the afternoon. If this fundamental reason for nationalising steel as set out in their manifesto is not correct, they should change their minds, if at the moment they intend to support the Government.
  The next charge is that inefficient high-cost plants were maintained. I ask hon. Members to consider for one second what would have happened if in the 1934–239 period some of the less efficient plants had been closed down for conversion to more modern equipment. It is a long, slow process. It should be remembered that by 1934 two years of protection to the industry had been available and it was

  1527
  just getting into the position of being able to take long-term steps to increase its efficiency. There was Stewarts and Lloyds' integrated plant, the finest of its kind in the world; there was Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds' project. But if there had been a comprehensive programme undertaken where would the steel have been which we needed at the outbreak of war. Having regard to the obviously growing need for maintaining and increasing production of steel it is utterly irresponsible to make the charge against the industry that it kept inefficient high-cost plants in existence.
  Mr. Cove: It did.
  Mr. Maclay: If that is a charge against the industry, I can only say that there would have been a far graver charge if it had closed them down and if steel capacity had been even less than it was at the outbreak of war.
  What is left of this astonishing prospectus? Only this quite remarkable statement:
  "Only if public ownership replaces private monopoly can the industry become efficient.—"
  Was there ever a more wild sweeping statement without any supporting evidence on which to base it? I do not intend to argue the point at length on the record of other industries which have been nationalised in the lifetime of this Parliament. I am prepared to accept the argument that two or three years is not a period in which one can finally judge the merits of a new system. I do suggest, however, that there is not the slightest evidence in the case of any one of them that the least advantage has been gained for the nation or the workers in this country.
  Mr. G. Thomas: What about the coal industry?
  Mr. Maclay: Let us first think about the consumers; we will come to the others later. The consumers have faced steadily rising coal prices, which by the end of 1948 had risen to 145 per cent. above the pre-war price, whereas the price of steel has increased only to 70 per cent. above the pre-war price. I gravely doubt whether, treating the matter strictly on its present merits, the miner is feeling that State ownership of coal is the answer to the difficult problem of the relations of management and workers in a great in-
  1528
  dustry. I do not put it higher than that at the moment.
  I trust that I am keeping in Order, as I do not propose to elaborate examples of nationalised industries, but the content of this Bill is to nationalise the steel industry, and I am trying, as fairly as I can, to present the case against allowing this Bill to be implemented. [Interruption.] Yes. I opposed the nationalisation of the mines. I have never thought that nationalisation at any time could be the answer for that or any other industry.
  I have examined the assertions in "Let us Face the Future," which I assume inspire speeches like the very sincere speech of the hon. Member for East Swansea. These assertions are wrong; not a word of them is provable. From the time of our first Debate on this subject, not one word has been said which would justify them. I suggest that it is a desperately grave thing for the party opposite to try to pass a Bill on the grounds that they received from the electorate in 1945 a mandate which was given, I repeat, on a completely false prospectus.
  The final point is the argument that the Government must have control of a key industry in the country which is so vital to the nation in war and peace as is the steel industry. That argument was dealt with to a considerable extent by my right hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot, but there is a point which I should like to emphasise still more strongly. No one will deny that in recent years there has been a steady and effective improvement in the relationship between Government and industry, particularly the steel industry.
  I say in all seriousness that in the case of an industry of the type of the steel industry, which is bound to present certain problems with regard to its relation to Government, there are two possibilities. One is to develop a system of relationship which will maintain the best of private enterprise, and at the same time prevent any risk of what hon. Members opposite call action which is not in the national interest. Between the wars I myself felt that we were really beginning to make progress in certain industries towards a proper relationship between industry and Government. We needed better consultation, and to that end it was essential that industries should be organised so that they could consult and

  1529
  Government organised so that it was competent to discuss with industry.
  Of all industries the steel industry had made the best progress in that form of consultation. First, there was the Import Duties Advisory Committee, then the war-time arrangements with the Ministry of Supply and then the Steel Board, and the industry has always said that it was only too ready to consider any further suggestions with regard to consultation. What hon. Members opposite are exchanging in this Bill is a really effective link between private enterprise and Government for a very dangerous experiment which cannot possibly preserve the best in private enterprise, and may possibly run into completely unknown dangers when the State runs such a complex machine. I could have understood it if the Government had taken one deep breath and made another great corporation to run the whole thing. But they are dabbling with a completely new experiment and they cannot possibly know the result.
  I would, finally, emphasise one point which has been dealt with already, but I have heard people of several nationalities abroad refer to it, and that is the desperate risk to international relations if the Government of the United Kingdom become the exclusive owner of steel. It is no use disguising it under the old names and the old firms. It will be known throughout the world that it is British Government steel. When our search for markets becomes acute—not only for steel products, but the manufactured products which depend for their price on steel—I solemnly warn hon. Members opposite that they will find one of the most dangerous causes of international friction will be if it is believed that we are, as a matter of internal Government policy, playing about with the price of steel on the short term in order to secure markets against the products of other countries. I believe that may have the most disastrous long-term consequences, and for that and for all these other reasons I would urge hon. Members opposite to think again very carefully indeed before they permit the present Bill to become law.
  5.3 p.m.
  Mr. E. L. Mallalieu: The hon. Member for Montrose Burghs (Mr. Maclay), who always speaks with such
  1530
  great sincerity, will, I am sure, find his views respected by this House. He enjoined on us to be aware of the responsibility we shall bear if we support the Government in giving a Third Reading to this Bill. Few hon. Members on this side of the House are unaware of that responsibility. Speaking for myself, I can only say that if I were not to support the Government, I should hesitate indeed to bear the burden which would then be mine.
  I feel that the Government are to be congratulated on having brought this Bill to this stage in so short a time. There has been ample discussion on every point that needed discussion. The Government have been most reasonable in their offers to the Opposition to facilitate discussion on any point upon which the Opposition felt that discussion was particularly important. But there has been from the very start, in the words of the right hon. Member for North Leeds (Mr. Peake), no co-operation at all. I think it was he who said at the very start that there would be no such co-operation. In the circumstances I consider that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply and his Parliamentary Secretary are to be congratulated on the extreme forbearance, good humour, and skill and the exhibition of knowledge with which they have conducted all the stages of this Bill.
  The proceedings have shown that the main fight over this Bill will be outside this House. Those powerful insurance, financial and often sinister influences which are throwing their whole weight into the opposition to this Bill, are not relying entirely upon the efforts of hon. Gentlemen opposite, gallant though those efforts have been—especially when making a loud noise about the Guillotine. They are relying rather more upon the hope that they will be able to persuade the country to turn this Government out of office at the next General Election, and thereby prevent this Bill from operating fully. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] I am glad to have confirmation from hon. Members opposite that that is indeed their point of view.
  The weapons they are proposing to use to this end, and indeed which they have already begun to use, are twofold. They have been trying to show the country, particularly those parts of the country which are not immediately connected

  1531
  with steel, that all is well in the industry; that the relationships inside the industry are perfect; that none of the workers or the management in the industry want to change the present arrangements. Secondly, they say that so efficient is the industry that it is producing these wonderful records, and it would be unwise, having regard to the great need of the nation for steel, to intervene in the industry at this time. I submit that the most unscrupulous use has been made of these records for party political propaganda.
  The fact is, as it seems to me, that were it not for the hope of nationalisation, all the pent-up indignation that there is in the minds of far too many steel workers would take a form which would force itself to the notice of the people in the country. But so great has been their restraint, and the restraint of their unions, and so great is the hope they pin on this Bill, that they have refrained from bringing this indignation to the pitch of industrial dispute. It would, however, be indeed wrong to suppose that those feelings are not present in their minds. Clause 39 of this Bill, a Clause to which I attach the very greatest importance, provides for machinery for the settlement of disputes and conditions of employment and so forth. That Clause, it seems to me, will henceforth be a charter for all engaged in the industry.
  Mr. William Shepherd: The hon. Member has referred to difficulties inside the industry from a labour point of view, and the indignation about injustices which prevail. Could he tell the House what are these particular points?
  Mr. Mallalieu: Most certainly. Were I so inclined, I could deal at very great length with them, at far greater length than I would be justified in doing in a Debate such as this, where a good many hon. Gentlemen wish to speak; but I will deal shortly with some of them. Perhaps the biggest of the points of indignation felt, particularly by those employed as manual workers in the steel industry today, is a point which incidentally will be swept away completely when Clause 39 comes into operation. It is the fact that so much has been done in the way of increasing supervisory staffs all over the industry at the present time.
  1532
  Ever since this Government took office the members of the supervisory staffs in the industry have increased out of all proportion to the possible necessity which there could be for increase.
  Mr. Martin LindsayMay I ask the hon. Member whether, with the analogy of the Coal Board, he thinks that supervisory staffs will be smaller under nationalisation?
  Mr. Mallalieu: I could debate upon that very point at great length. I will confine myself to the steel industry. There is no doubt whatever in the minds of those who know conditions in the industry today—and many hon. Members know them far better than I do—that there has been an enormous increase in supervisory staff under so-called private enterprise in recent years, and particularly since this Government came into power. I can think of an instance of two mills in my constituency run by the same firm. In 1939 there was one steel works engineer over the two mills with a resident engineer at each. Now there is the same works engineer over the two mills with the same resident engineers but each man has an assistant. There are two others who deal with overhead cranes and in addition one of the engineers has two other assistants for pumps and the delivery end of the mill. There are now eight engineers where formerly two sufficed.
  Mr. Erroll: Surely the increase in the supervisory staff arises through continuous working in the post-war period and the need to maintain plant which is necessarily more complicated now than before the war?
  Mr. Mallalieu: I agree that plant which is more complicated has been introduced since the war.
  Mr. Erroll: It is in the interests of the working people themselves that the plant should be efficiently maintained.
  Mr. Mallalieu: Of course, it is. The workers are convinced, and they should know, that far more supervisory staff are being employed than is necessary. The same is true with regard to foremen. There has been an increase of nearly 50 per cent. All these matters can be smoothed out under the machinery of Clause 39 in a way which perhaps would have been impossible under the previous

  1533
  arrangements. A similar position exists in the steelworks furnaces and blast furnaces. There, again, the men never know from one day to another when there will be a completely new set of shift managers installed. These are the sort of topics which are talked about among the workers in that part of the steel industry which is so firmly and successfully fixed in my constituency.
  An amusing story is told of a firm which wanted a valve fitter. It proved difficult to find a man. The manager of the local employment exchange scoured the country for a valve fitter. When at last he found one, he rang up the works and was told "It is no use now. There is not a single unemployed man left in the town whom we could put over this man as a charge-hand." That is the type of thing which has been happening. I suggest that the object has been twofold. First, there has been the object of withholding profits from the Government and, secondly, there has been an effort to create a hotbed for breeding Conservative supporters inside the works. There is no doubt in the minds of those engaged in the works that that has been happening. In fact, some of the works which I could mention by name are nothing less than extensions of the Conservative Central Office. Even propaganda is sent round with the pay packet, and junior members of the staff are invited by senior members to contribute to Conservative Party funds.
  Another way in which this policy is furthered is by the formation of staff unions. I submit that it is conscious effort by the really high directors of the steel industry—the "steel barons" as they are accurately and conveniently called—to separate the sheep from the goats, the collar-and-tie men from the manual workers. I could quote one instance in my constituency where there were chemists who were members of a union and also members of a staff association. They had resisted all the pressure to leave their union which is generally put upon these men when they are compelled to join the staff association. They paid both subscriptions, but they were receiving less pay than the union rate for chemists. They did their best to act through the staff association to obtain the good conditions to which they were entitled, but the staff association did
  1534
  nothing at all for them. Then in despair they went to their union. The moment the higher management discovered they had gone to their union, they approached the staff association and promised the chemists even more pay than they were asking for through the union. The management did that through the staff association in order to give a veiled subsidy or support to that organisation which they felt was more under their control than the union.
  Another burning question which I have encountered again and again in the short time during which I have been connected with the constituency of Brigg, which has the steel industry right in its heart, is that like so many conservatively controlled affairs the steel industry has been absolutely ridden with nepotism. People say, "Jobs for the boys." Not only has it been that, but it has been jobs for the husbands of the girls in some cases. Nobody has been safe no matter how great his skill and experience in the industry. They might easily be elbowed out—that has actually happened—to make room for some friend, connection or relative of one of those in a high position. I know that it is argued that with nationalisation there will be less personal touch between the management, or the employers, and those working in the industry. I should have thought that with the introduction of the big combines this process had perhaps already gone as far as possible. But I must hand credit to the Opposition for the fact that in the old days when the firms were smaller there was a personal touch. It is important now to set up machinery to maintain what was good in that personal touch without retaining its abuses, such as the nepotism of which I have spoken.
  There is a story in my constituency of a firm named Steel, Peech and Tozer which is now part of a larger amalgamation. The story is that a labourer was seen standing leaning upon his shovel for a long time. At last he was approached by a man wearing a bowler hat who said, "My man, what firm do you work for?" The labourer looked up and said "Steel, Peech and some other beggar—I don't know who he is." The gentleman in the bowler hat replied, "Just you run along to that little but over there. That is the office. Get your cards, and tell them that the other beggar sent you." In that case, and in others I could mention, there was

  1535
  a close personal touch between those who owned the industry and those who really worked in it. All the best element of the personal touch can be maintained, as it will be, under Clause 39. This Bill enshrines the hopes of the industry. We shall be laying the foundation of an edifice which will give all that they deserve to those fine men in all ranks of the industry who have done such wonderful work in recent years.
  5.19 p.m.
  Mr. Alfred Edwards: I am glad to have an opportunity to make a few comments on the speech of the hon. Member for Brigg (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu). If it were possible to carry the argument to reasonable proof, I would lay a heavy wager with the hon. Gentleman that the nepotism to which he has referred, will pale into insignificance compared with the nepotism which will come with nationalisation. If, instead of facing the future, he insists, as so many of my old colleagues insist, on facing the past, there is a little bit of truth in what he has said. The hon. Gentleman would find it difficult in the industry today to find men in high positions who have not come from the ranks, as I and many others in the steel industry have done. I doubt whether he could mention a single man in a prominent position in the steel industry at present who has not served his time in the shops.
  Mr. Mallalieu: The hon. Gentleman has asked me to mention a name. Perhaps he is not aware of the retired rear-admiral who is at present works manager?
  Mr. M. Lindsay: Would the hon. Gentleman opposite allow me to inform him that he is a qualified engineer who went into these works, but who has since changed his job?
  Mr. Edwards: Arguments which were valid 25 years ago are no longer valid today. Hon. Gentlemen opposite who have given some thought to this subject seem to base their arguments on books and pamphlets which had some validity 20 years ago but have absolutely none today. All the heads of the steel industry today—in fact, I could mention only one exception, and I doubt if other hon. Members could even think of one—have risen from the ranks, and that is precisely what Socialists always wanted them to do. I
  1536
  doubt very much whether many trade unionists today are satisfied themselves that it is the competent craftsmen who are getting the big jobs. I hear of a great deal of dissatisfaction, and particularly in the last six months, during which I have been closer to the steel workers than have most hon. Members here.
  Mr. G. Thomas: They gave you a good time, too.
  Mr. Edwards: The steel workers gave me a very good time, even in Cardiff, which was more than the hon. Gentleman was willing to do in his constituency. When I went to his constituency to talk to the people there, the hon. Gentleman influenced the local church committee to refuse me the only hall there was in the town for the meeting.
  Mr. Thomas: I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way. He is quite wrong. He is talking about my home and not my constituency, and he is also making the mistake of believing that a Methodist church is a public hall. We never allow political discussions in Methodist churches.
  Mr. Edwards: But they tried to stop me getting the hall.
  Mr. Thomas: We nearly did.
  Mr. Edwards: An hon. Gentleman opposite has said that he would debate this matter with any Member of another party, but not with a Member who had been thrown out of a party. Well, believe me, it is quite a distinction, because all the other Members whom I can remember in my lifetime as having been thrown out of the party, are now in the Cabinet. [Interruption.] No, I am not going to follow suit; neither have I the ambition. I want to put before hon. Members opposite some of the reasons why I oppose this Bill. There is no need to be offensive about it.
  First, there is this question of talking so dogmatically about what the unions think and do not think. When this Bill was demanded, it was demanded by the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Health at a time when the Government did not appear to have any intention of introducing it. Until the right hon. Gentleman threatened to resign if they did not do so, the Government did not introduce it, and indeed the Government

  1537
  would not have had it, because the unions had not demanded it. Those are the words of the Government, and they are on record. It is no good hon. Members coming here and claiming to speak for the majority of the trade unionists concerned. I doubt very much whether they could get a registered opinion of a very large proportion of the trade unions concerned in the steel industry on this question
  It has never been done before, and the most authoritative expression of opinion in the lifetime of any hon. Member here has shown that it has never been possible to get a complete registered opinion of the workers, and that it can be done only to the extent of some 20 or 25 per cent. of the men. Every trade unionist in the House knows that that is true, and that it is probably an exaggerated figure at that. It is not easy to get trade union opinion on this matter, and I think the hon. Member for Brigg was exaggerating very unwisely in trying to give that picture of men bursting with indignation. I am prepared to say that, if he will take me with him to his constituency, we shall probably find that the numbers concerned are very small indeed.
  I agree with the right hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Lyttelton) that there has been no attempt by the Government or their supporters to justify the claims on which this Bill is founded. Officially, the intention is to produce more and cheaper steel, and the Minister, in his Second Reading speech, reaffirmed that as almost the main justification for the Bill. The Minister said that we could not count on those in private enterprise producing all the steel we wanted t but this industry has beaten all records. Indeed, I doubt whether there is another industry in any other country in the world that has been controlled as the steel industry has been, in regard to men and employers alike, which can show such a record. I do not think the Parliamentary Secretary will deny that the management can take at least some credit for these achievements.
  Mr. J. Jones: The Government have always said—and every Government spokesman in speech after speech has paid this tribute—that credit was due to both workers and managements. We always look upon the men as being part of management.
  Mr. Edwards: By common consent, the industry as a whole has put up a magnificent performance. I doubt whether there is any industry in industrial history in any country in the world with a performance like that which has been achieved in the steel industry of this country. The Government have never uttered a single word to show how they expect to get this increased efficiency. Everything we have seen so far and all the evidence we have had, show that there has already been an increase in efficiency in this industry, and I do not think that will be denied. If we take the example of the nationalised industries, we see that industries which made profits before are now suffering losses. It may be that they have not had sufficient time yet, but the Lord President of the Council has said that the onus of proof rests upon the nationalisers. In other words, the Government have no right to proceed with further nationalisation until they have proved that it has produced more efficiency where it has been applied. The House has no evidence before it to substantiate that case. We have no reason at all to expect greater efficiency.
  Mr. Mitchison: Will the hon. Gentleman permit me to remind him that, the railways, apart from subsidies, and civil aviation, before nationalisation, were both running at a loss? The hon. Gentleman has used the phrase "turning profits into losses."
  Mr. Edwards: The hon. and learned Gentleman always likes to get that point in, but I am not going to argue with him. It would take a long time to deal with that point, and there are many other matters raised by that rather simple statement. The fact is that the Government have nothing but losses to show in the nationalised industries, and that is the only measure of success which we have yet obtained.
  Mr. Follick: The hon. Gentleman talks about the only producing industry to be nationalised. What about coalmining?
  Mr. Edwards: Is the hon. Gentleman going to brag about that? The miners do not. The miners say that in the old days at least they knew they had a boss, to whom they could go and kick up a row, with the result that he would get something done, whereas today there is

  1539
  no boss, but only a machine. The hon. Gentleman should not believe that the miners' leaders are happy about what has happened in the coal industry.
  Mr. Ewart: If the lion. Gentleman had attended the miners' demonstrations on May Day, he would have received the lie to the statement he has made.
  Mr. Edwards: Well, why did not Mr. Lincoln Evans have something to say about this?
  Mr. Ewart: Mr. Lincoln Evans does not speak for the miners' union.
  Mr. Edwards: Well, what about Mr. Hall, the Yorkshire Miners' leader? Take the head of the Coal Board himself. Has he not said that the whole thing has to be reorganised from top to bottom? Has not Sir Charles Reid resigned because they could not get the required production?
  Mr. Deputy-Speaker (Major Milner): The hon. Gentleman must not debate the mining industry?
  Mr. Edwards: I was saying that the whole case for this Bill is that we should produce more and cheaper steel, but no voice speaking on behalf of the Government, either inside or outside this House, has yet advanced a valid argument to indicate that we have produced more through nationalisation, or that there is any possibility of doing so.
  I suppose that the greatest Socialist economist is Mr. G. D. H. Cole; what are his reasons for wanting to nationalise the steel industry? He said that the steel barons restricted output in order to increase their profits. Hon. Members opposite are always facing the past and going back to the 1930's. Of course, one could put up that argument with regard to the 1930's; I put it up myself. Mr. Cole said that we must take the industry out the hands of the steel barons because, when it came to post-war development, all they proposed to produce was 16 million tons. That was no use; we wanted 26 million tons. But, like the Socialist writers and supporters of the Government, he uttered no word to indicate how we are to get that 10 million tons.
  I would remind the House of the figures of production. The capacity of our pig iron production in this country at the
  1540
  present time is 9 million tons, of which we take 2 million tons for export leaving 7 million tons towards the steel tonnage produced last year for home needs. The other 8 million tons comes from scrap, and we are scouring the world for scrap. We are combing this country to get all the scrap we can, and, only recently, we have decided with America how we shall divide the scrap available in Germany. The main reason given by Mr. Cole in his book for taking the industry out of the hands of the steel barons is that we must have 26 million tons of steel, but there is not a word as to how he is going to get the other 10 million tons.
  Mr. J. Jones: The hon. Gentleman has just made an important statement to the effect that this country has come to an agreement with America about scrap in Germany. Seeing that he is supporting private enterprise, does he suggest that the Second Schedule companies could have gone individually and made an agreement with America with regard to the scrap in Germany?
  Mr. Edwards: I remember the argument that the party opposite were going to make better terms with Russia than could be made by the people on this side of the House. But what is the use of those trivial arguments? There is no sense in an argument of that sort. How can it help? We are talking about the scarcity of scrap. Has nationalisation anything to do with the agreement with America as to how the German scrap was to be divided? That agreement was arrived at on commonsense grounds. I have never heard such nonsense.
  Mr. J. Jones Mr. J. Jones rose—
  Mr. Edwards: I do not wish to pursue a silly argument like that. I am saying that the greatest Socialist economist has led the country to believe that, by means of this Bill, the party opposite can produce 26 million tons of steel, including the few million tons for export, instead of the 16 million tons estimated, but, as I have already said, he does not support it with a single argument or indicate where the other 10 million tons are to come from. There are 8 million tons of scrap today. You would need another 10 million tons to get your 26 million tons of steel, or else you could double your pig iron capacity, and meanwhile

  1541
  you would not be able to export capital goods abroad. You would want another 3 million tons of coal which the miners are not producing.
  No serious argument has been advanced by anyone opposite to justify the things that they have been saying about nationalisation. Let us look at it from the workers' point of view. One of the trade union leaders—an old friend of the Parliamentary Secretary's—said, when I asked him at a meeting to tell the workers what he expected, from their point of view, to get from nationalisation, "Well, when we own the industry, it will be run first of all for wages for the men and not profits for the boss." That was his idea. Now I want to show the party opposite exactly what they are doing.
  After all, under private enterprise, you pay a penalty unless you are successful. There is no harder taskmaster than a profit and loss account. You can fool it for a while, but not all the time. I shall always remember when 50 per cent. of my constituents—steel workers—were walking the streets without wages. As a Socialist, I do not take back one word of my criticism of the capitalist system, but what I am saying is that nationalisation is not a cure for such a state of affairs. Fifty per cent. of the steel workers in my constituency were walking the streets without wages, and the boss, too, paid the penalty on that occasion. He paid a very heavy penalty; he not only lost his dividends, but he lost his capital. That is the penalty you pay if you are not efficient, and you pay the same penalty if it is just a matter of bad luck. I remember that Dorman Long's shares were written down from 20s. to 2s.—a 90 per cent. reduction. That was the penalty the boss paid. You could buy all the shares you wanted for 2s. each, but you would never get a dividend. This may not be satisfactory to hon. Members on this side of the House, but I think that hon. Members opposite ought to think about it.
  What are you doing now? If when the next depression comes in another year or two, as some people think it will, my men are again walking the streets without wages, do you think they will be happy to know that you have made the boss the first charge on the industry? Today, you are proposing to take over Dorman Long's shares at 32s. 6d., and you are going to give them
  1542
  3 per cent. steel bonds. But the point is that you are doing exactly the opposite to what you thought you were doing. You did not think it out, and you carry a very grave responsibility. Three per cent. of 32s. 6d. is 5 per cent. of 20s., and you are now going to give to the boss a guaranteed income of 5 per cent. on all his pounds for all time, and, indeed, to his children and his children's children. When those men are walking the streets without wages, will they be pleased with what you have fastened on them—a 5 per cent. gilt-edged security? Where can you find such a security in the world today? By doing that, you are placing a burden on the workers—the people you represent—for all time.
  Mr. S. N. Evans: Is the hon. Gentleman really suggesting that the Government are going to issue stock in payment for this industry which will, in fact, go on earning a dividend for all time? Is he really suggesting that no term will be put to it?
  Mr. Edwards: Is the hon. Gentleman suggesting that he wants to confiscate it? You have never said so. It is implicit in this Bill that you do pay it for all time; there has not been a single word to the contrary. Perhaps the Minister will say whether he intends to alter it. Does he? He has never said so. He does not deny that it does go on for all time. When you give them 3 per cent. steel bonds for all time—
  Mr. Deputy-Speaker: I should be grateful if the hon. Gentleman would not blame the Chair for all these matters; he keeps using the personal pronoun "you."
  Mr. Edwards: I beg your pardon, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. Hon. Members opposite must realise what they are doing. You are paying for this industry with 3 per cent. steel bonds, and you are going to pay at today's value, and by buying Dorman Long's shares for 32s. 6d. you are giving them 5 per cent. for all time. I say to hon. Members opposite that the men they represent are not going to be very happy about that. It is not part of the Socialist programme to confiscate property, and it has been agreed to pay the full value. In introducing the Bill on Second Reading the Minister said that under this Bill we should get the best of

  1543
  both worlds. I shall tell the House when we get the best of both worlds; it is when the boss, the steel baron, sacrifices 90 per cent. of his capital if he is inefficient, and when the sort of profits which he has made recently are taken from him and given to the workers, as the Government are doing today.
  On a previous occasion I pointed out to the House, and nobody questioned it —perhaps the Minister will question it today if he wishes—that when a man ploughs back into his business 25 per cent. of the profits, 15s. goes in distribution and 12s. 6d. and no less goes to the State—exactly where the Socialists want it to go. The Chancellor takes 12s. 6d. Can we get much more than that? The Chancellor says that we cannot. We are getting that today, and surely we are getting the best of both worlds. I have yet to meet a working man who will respond to any incentive other than profit. Deny that if you dare, you people who mix with the workers. It is now called wages. It is the same thing; it is the profit incentive all the way.
  Under this Bill you are harnessing people with 5 per cent. on capital for time. Today under the present system you take five-sixths of all the profits available for nothing, and you are going to pay all that capital to these people in order to get one-sixth more. Does that make sense? You never thought it out, or you would not have done it. You are asking them to lay five to one—
  Mr. Deputy-Speaker: I have already asked the hon. Member not to use the word "you."
  Mr. Edwards: I apologise, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. I have been addressing so many public meetings recently.
  I ask the Minister, if he questions that figure, to say that the State are not getting what the Socialists always wanted. Where does the £500 million come for the food subsidy, if it does not come from this profit? If the Government turn this profit into a loss they will do nothing except impose a lower standard of living. [An HON. MEMBER: "Rot."] It will be rot for the workers if there are no profits from steel. Hon. Members may smile and make witty remarks, but that is no substitute for thought. If the Government supporters had thought this one out
  1544
  a little earlier, they certainly would not allow this Bill to go through.
  Mr. Awbery: The hon. Member has not given the subject a good deal of thought.
  Mr. Edwards: Let some hon. Member opposite deal with the arguments which I have put forward. They have not done so yet. The hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. S. N. Evans) has an opportunity. I shall tell the House what his ambitions were and what he advocated in his election campaign. He said that we intended to nationalise the coalmines, because when we owned the mines we should get coal at half the price. He also said, "When we get cheap coal, then we shall show you how to produce cheap steel." Of course, if it worked out that way everybody would want it, but when it works out at two or three times the price, it is a different matter.
  Mr. S. N. Evans: The rhetorical wassailing of the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards) is very entertaining, but he really should pay regard to facts. If he can bring me any Press report or any document in which I used the words which he is now attributing to me, I shall be very pleased to buy him his dinner tonight and throw in a bottle of wine.
  Mr. Edwards: The wine will be redundant. I am prepared to introduce the hon. Member to the gentleman who took the chair at the meeting. I am surprised that he denies it, because a good many people in his own district assure me that it is exactly what he said. He expected to produce coal at half the price. That is what a lot of simpletons thought. Of course, we thought that we were going to get all these things cheaper, that production would go up and costs would go down. The facts are before us, and we must face the facts as well as the future. If hon. Members go on living in the past, as many do, and make speeches based on pamphlets and books written long ago, they will lead the country astray. There will be plenty of opportunity to deal with the statements which I have made, and I invite hon. Members opposite to refute them.
  5.48 p.m.
  Mr. S. N. Evans: I have always had a good deal of liking for the

  1545
  hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards). I have never felt any chemical incompatibility with him, but he has come here this afternoon and made a speech which has had very little regard for the facts. For example, he quoted me as having said that when coal was nationalised it would be half the price. Of course, that would have been a fantastically stupid statement for any man to make, and, without over-estimating my own capacity, I am not quite as "barmy" as to make such a statement.
  Then the hon. Gentleman went on to say that the steelmasters were being paid out on a basis which assured them 5 per cent. for evermore on the bonds which were issued to them. He has no right to make that statement. The Government would not dream of paying compensation to this industry on the basis of irredeemable stock. I should think that the most these steelmasters will be paid is 3 per cent dated stock, and that in due course the Government will redeem that stock and that will be the end of the connection between the steelmasters and the steel industry. I really must protest against the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough and, indeed, any hon. Member making statements of that kind which can only be designed deliberately to mislead the workers in the industry.
  Mr. A. Edwards: Will the hon. Gentleman explain the difference between what he says and what I have said? Will the Government redeem the stock? If the Government are paying 32s. 6d., that is 5 per cent. on a 20s. share. If they redeem it, what happens? The Government pay money for it, and surely the steel will have to earn interest.
  Mr. Evans: The hon. Member persists in trying to create the impression that the Government are going to pay the steel-masters out in irredeemable stock, carrying 5 per cent. interest. That simply is not true. The hon. Member has referred several times to views he has pointed out to the House on previous occasions and it is, of course, a fact that the hon. Member has pointed out a lot of things to the House. For example, on 28th May, 1946, in this Chamber he had this to say:
  "But the Government have put forward a perfect plan of integration. It is a plan for coal, iron ore, transport and power. and iron and steel. What more perfect integration do
  1546
  you want in industry than that? I suggest that you cannot do without any one of those things, and if we left out one we would be asking for trouble. We must have absolute control of them all. The Government propose that, and I am very glad they do so. —[OFFICIAL REPORT, 28th May, 1946; Vol. 423, c. 1056.]
  Mr. Edwards: Would the hon. Member like to read on in that speech, in which I said that if the Government slips into a bureaucracy, it is bound to fail?
  Mr. Ivor Thomas: Is it not also the case that the proposals which the Government were then presenting to the. House were, in fact, dropped by them as impracticable and that the Minister subsequently jettisoned them?
  Mr. Evans: The hon. Member for East Middlesbrough was talking about the prospects of nationalisation and was giving them his fullest support. Having regard to the change which has taken place in his point of view on the matter in the intervening period, I suggest there may well be another change in his point of view before too long. I do not intend, therefore, to dwell at any great length on his speech. I note with interest the close proximity of the two hon. Members—the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Ivor Thomas) and the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough I do not know whether the term "fellow travellers" would he the correct term but—
  Mr. Edwards: Has the hon. Member for Wednesbury ever made a change in his position?
  Mr. Evans: Never in my life. My political convictions are the same today as they have been ever since I have had political convictions. That is why I am on my feet to support the Measure now before the House.
  Turning to more serious matters, the right hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Lyttelton) spoke of the vagueness of the Iron and Steel Corporation's powers and purpose. I think that would describe the purport of what he said. The question arises whether these powers should be defined by Parliament or whether they should be left to the discretion of the Minister. That is a problem which we discussed at some length in Committee. I want to say quite frankly, that on this matter and on the subject of the vesting

  1547
  date our deliberations have been tinged with just a vague suggestion of unreality. I say that because—and I said this earlier in our deliberations upstairs—a good deal has to be left to Ministerial discretion because of the peculiar circumstances which attend this piece of legislation. For 40-odd days we have been fashioning a piece of mechanism which we hope will break all records, but throughout the proceedings we have been handicapped by lack of knowledge as to who were to be the drivers of this mechanism and what-their views might be on design, speed and timing. It seems to me that until these people have been appointed and consulted, Parliament would be ill-advised to be too dogmatic about the type of brakes, steering and control which will best serve the public interest.
  Here, of course, a dilemma presents itself. It would be a triumph of wishful thinking to expect first-class drivers of the type we shall want to run this mechanism to jeopardise their future prospects by volunteering to drive for a competitive organisation a piece of mechanism which might never start. I think we must face up to that. The electors are the final arbiters and their decision will be known in May or June next year. Much play has been made about the supposed iniquity of the timing of this piece of legislation. I think the Government deserve commendation for the manner in which they have handled this matter. Quite obviously this is the most important piece of industrial legislation which has come before this House. The future of this industry is of paramount importance because it is upon this industry that all the fabricating industries depend for their essential raw materials. It is both right and proper that both the House and the nation should give very careful consideration to the issue; Should this industry be publicly owned or privately owned? The timing of this legislation gives an opportunity to the citizens of this country to accept or reject the Measure which is now before the House. I think the Opposition are, therefore, on very weak ground indeed when they complain of the timing of the Bill.
  I am glad that little has been said today which has been critical of the industries already nationalised. I agree with the hon. Member for East Middles-
  1548
  brough that the end of two years is too soon to judge. Private industry has had 200 years and, if the test is efficiency, then two years is indeed far too short a period in which to judge. The suggestion underlying all the Opposition's arguments against steel nationalisation is that this is a free enterprise industry in which competition freely takes place. That, of course, is a complete fallacy. This industry has been a closed shop, with price and quota-fixing arrangements throughout a whole range, for many years. Indeed, the last free enterpriser in steel was Sir William Firth, and we all know what happened to him. He was liquidated as effectively as are political heretics beyond the Iron Curtain.
  I suggest that both on political and economic grounds the case for the public ownership of this industry cannot be gainsaid. Steel and insurance are the citadels of twentieth century power, and no society moving towards a planned economy can afford to concede autonomy to two such giants within its ranks. I do not think it is of any good to deny the political implications of this Measure, and for my part I make no attempt to deny them—nor, indeed, to conceal them.
  I want to speak of the economic aspect for a moment or two. The first thing I want to say is this. When the rationalisation, modernisation and expansion of this industry are complete we must have an industry not only abreast of the latest American and Continental technique but a generation ahead. It will not be sufficient to have made up the leeway of the past 20 years of neglect. In terms of competitive force, it must be the most formidable instrument of its kind in the world. It is fashionable to discuss the future of this industry—and I can understand why—as though it can be considered in isolation. It is not so, and I want to deal for a moment with the social consequences of the rationalisation and modernisation and expansion of this industry, which is so necessary in the interests of the nation.
  The Iron and Steel Corporation may well decide that it is in the national interest to build two fully integrated plants—two new fully integrated plants—on the ore beds. I think we shall have to concede that in expansion, where imported ore and scrap are to be used, the

  1549
  plant must be on the coast, and where home ore is to be used, the plant must be on the ore beds. If the Iron and Steel Corporation does as I suggest it may, that, in itself, will present a big social problem. New towns will have to be built, and new houses; all services will have to be laid on; schools and hospitals will have to be built. I want to ask the Opposition whether the steel-masters would consider it part of their functions to carry out this development. Suppose they did consider it to be part of their functions, would they have the facilities?
  I want to speak about these new strip mills in South Wales. The modernisation and development of strip mills in South Wales will, when completed, undoubtedly put whole villages in South Wales to sleep. There is no doubt about that at all. This will, of course, create a social problem of considerable magnitude. I think my party has to face up to this. The social consequences of everything the Labour Government do will be measured in terms of human happiness as well as in terms of economics. But if we are ever to recover our economic strength, and rid ourselves of financial dependence on the United States of America, full employment cannot mean employment with one firm in one industry in one town from adolescence to senility.
  We have to face up to that fact. The consequences, of course, of the putting to sleep of those villages must be the replacement of the former industry by new industries, or such arrangements as will enable employment, in terms satisfactory to those displaced persons, to be provided elsewhere. Again, I ask the Opposition to deal with this matter tonight, because this question of steel nationalisation cannot be divorced from other major problems; and although I know it is fashionable—and I understand why—for the Opposition to omit any reference to these very important aspects of steel nationalisation, I hope there will be a departure from that course tonight, and that we shall hear something about these things.
  There is another economic aspect of this development in South Wales. Because we are building at a peak period in terms of cost, this bold, imaginative, and highly commendable South Wales
  1550
  sheet and tin-plate project will undoubtedly cost something like £70 million. When I was in South Wales towards the end of last year men concerned with this project told me that the industry would be faced with a depreciation charge of £7 per ton. Because of the fact that we are building at a peak period in terms of cost there will be a depreciation charge of £7 per ton on a commodity which the Americans were landing at Tilbury in May, 1939, at £14 5s., carriage, insurance and freight paid. Subjected to fierce competition from written down American plants of the same calibre, the industry will not be able to carry this depreciation burden, and it may well be that the State will be compelled to write off a considerable proportion of this high capital cost. If the plants are nationally owned, all well and good; but I want to say to this House that if the Tory Party, or, indeed, any Government ever tried to burden the taxpayers in this manner, so that Richard Thomas could continue to draw 15 per cent. per annum, there would be hell upon earth. The citizens of this country would not stand for that—and quite rightly and properly so. I think we are entitled to hear from the Opposition tonight their reaction to the points that are now being put forward for consideration.
  I am a complete optimist about the future of this industry, as, indeed, I am about the future of this country. Nevertheless, I think it may be necessary for us to switch our economy more and more to the production of capital goods—machine tools, power station equipment, locomotives, public service vehicles, and the like. This will call for more and more steel. I believe that the world, given a settlement of present international political differences, may well be on the eve of an era of prosperity unparalleled in history. One thousand million people East of Suez are waking up. I believe that the British and the American armies have revealed to the backward coloured peoples a standard of life to which they now aspire, and that the satisfaction of that demand will call for capital equipment of all kinds which, in turn, will call for a greatly expanded British steel industry,
  Over and above all these economic considerations, however, I put the effect of this Measure on the crucial struggle between two ideas now going on throughout the world. I do not think that we can

  1551
  consider this great Measure objectively in a vacuum. We have to consider it—the House has to consider it—within the framework of the political and economic conditions that obtain in this our day and age. Britain's problems, and the measures necessary to solve those problems, collectively constitute a diamond of many facets. I think that this may be the most important aspect of the Bill. Western Union, Commonwealth development, output per man shift, wage increases, penal taxation—these are the stuff of politics today, and no one facet can be judged except in relation to the other. I do not deny nor conceal the political implications of this Bill; not only the national implications but the international implications.
  No political party can survive without a philosophy and no philosophy can survive without spirituality. At a time when social democracy can only extend its influence by presenting to the world a virile, practical, inspiring alternative to the bread and serfdom concepts of Eastern Europe, a betrayal by the British Labour Government of the philosophy which gave it birth would have had catastrophic effects not only in this country but throughout Europe. This Bill is a further and inevitable stage in the revolution by consent. I congratulate the Government on bringing it forward. I do not think that there is any substantial body of opinion against it in the country. Indeed, I am convinced that the hope of the Tory Party that they will be able to artificially engender opposition to this Measure will be confounded.
  6.15 p.m.
  Mr. Martin Lindsay: Since his return at a recent by-election, I have watched with interest the progress of the hon. Member for Brigg (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu) because I myself, for three years before the war, was hoping to represent that constituency. Therefore, it was with sorrow and surprise that I listened to the very remarkable speech which he made in this House a little while ago, containing, as it did, a number of distortions, half-truths and personal allusions which it is not possible to refute without knowing the individual cases and making inquiries. I can only say that if the hon. Gentleman really believes that a certain steel works in Scunthorpe—and I know to which steel works he referred and I have
  1552
  known it much longer than he has—adds to its costs by employing more men than necessary, thereby reducing its profits and deflating the Stock Exchange value of its shares for purposes of obtaining less compensation for its shareholders—if he honestly believes that, he is capable of believing anything. The last time he addressed this House on the subject of the steel industry, the local paper carried a headline to its leading article at the end of that week. It is not a Tory paper, for it gave me trouble before the war when contesting that constituency. The headline was "Scunthorpe Disapproves." I venture to suggest that Scunthorpe will disapprove even more this week after the speech which the hon. Gentleman has made.
  Mr. E. L. Mallalieu: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that after that headline appeared in what is universally regarded in Scunthorpe as a Tory paper—a paper which refuses to publish letters in a contrary sense to that expressed in the headline—I, accompanied by the Parliamentary Secretary, held a meeting in the largest hall in Scunthorpe within a fortnight of that speech and, so far from disapproving, a large section of Scunthorpe approved uproariously and almost unanimously.
  Mr. Lindsay: I should not be very convinced by that, because I know how large that small hall in Scunthorpe is. It is always possible to have an enthusiastic meeting of one's own supporters. I would rather turn to the much more important speech of the Parliamentary Secretary, even if in doing so I shall engender a certain amount of heat in hon. Members opposite. The hon. Member said that in his opinion the Opposition did not make the best use of the time at our disposal on Committee stage. I think that that was a most extraordinary statement. He knows perfectly well that this is a Bill of 88 pages and the hours available to the Opposition for discussion were not more than 87. He cannot hold seriously the opinion that a Measure so complicated and so important as this can be discussed in adequate detail in such time as that.
  I now want to refer to something else said by the Parliamentary Secretary whom we all respect. He referred—and the hon. Member for East Swansea (Mr. Mort) referred to it also—to the bitterness there used to be in the steel industry. I

  1553
  take it that he was referring to unemployment. I think that it is extraordinary that Labour Members should care to mention unemployment because if any party has a record to be ashamed of with regard to the steel industry it is the party opposite. Not only did the maximum unemployment in the steel industry happen when the hon. Member's party composed the Government of this country, but it is an historical fact that one factor more than any other which restored the prosperity of the industry was the tariff. And the whole of the party opposite voted against it.
  I remember that in Scunthorpe in 1930 a very well respected leader of the party opposite, who was President of the Board of Trade at that time, Mr. William Graham, visited the town and said, "What you want is a tariff and my advice to the Government is that you should not have it." That was the considered opinion of a Cabinet member of the party opposite and if he had held a different opinion, it might well be that the tariff would have come a year or two earlier and the shocking record of unemployment in the steel industry would not have taken place. If a respected leader of the party opposite could commit an error of judgment of such great moment for the steel industry in those days they cannot be surprised that we ourselves can have no faith that the present Minister of Supply, who is to have the overriding responsibility for this great industry, will deal any more effectively with the industry in the days that are to come.
  On Second Reading I said that that was a very sad day for Britain. One might well think that this is an even more melancholy occasion were it not for the fact that, as the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. S. N. Evans) reminded us just now, it is the people of this country who will be the final arbitrators of this issue, and I have no doubt which way they will decide. This Bill is, as the Parliamentary Secretary told us, almost identical with that which was first introduced to this House on Second Reading six months ago, and as such it altogether fails to meet the very serious points of criticism levelled against it on Second Reading. As my right hon. and hon. Friends said at the time, there was nothing in the Bill, and today there is still nothing in the Bill, which makes provision, even ultimately, for any improve-
  1554
  ment in either the quantity or quality of steel, or for lowering its price. Of course, we appreciated at the time that the reason for the flexibility which the Minister was so anxious to have in the Bill was that he had no idea what either he or the Corporation intended to do about the industry. In my opinion the Government have still not the slightest idea of what they are taking on, or indeed what they will do about it.
  Let me now make one or two comments upon details in the Bill. Clause 1 (2) makes provision for the setting up of the Corporation and the appointment of the chairman and members by the Minister. I venture to suggest that it is in this respect as much as any other that the nationalisation of this industry would be bound to fail. What the Government are proposing to do is to build up a gigantic monopoly Corporation as vast as or vaster than any other industrial undertaking in existence today. I think that it will be so big and complicated that there are not more than two or three men in the world who have the experience and the ability to manage efficiently such a colossus. But, of course, the Minister has not the whole world to choose from in looking for the man to appoint as chairman of this Corporation, partly because such quasi-political appointments as these are for obvious reasons narrowed down to the comparatively small field of one's own nationals, and partly because others would not take it on. We remember two years ago when the Government tried to get one of the leaders of the South African steel industry to come over to this country to advise them, but he was not willing to do so.
  The same insoluble problem arises in regard to the men who are to be members of the Corporation, although to a lesser degree. In practice, the Government's choice is limited to people in this country. Far be it from me to hold an opinion as to who would be a suitable man to be chairman of this great Corporation, but one thing I am absolutely certain of, is that there are not more than one or perhaps two in the whole of this country who would be capable of making a success of it. I am equally certain that, wherever such a paragon is to be located, the Government are not likely to find him, or indeed to persuade him to take on the job if they could find him. I believe, therefore, that there is to be

  1555
  found at the very beginning of this Bill a problem which the Government have posed for themselves, one which they are not likely to succeed in solving, and in default of which the whole project is bound to fail.
  I pass to the second respect in which I am confident that the nationalisation of steel, if it ever takes place, is bound to fall down. Here the operative word is "cost." The one consideration which has alarmed me more than any other when we have been considering the nationalisation of the steel industry is that it will inevitably result in increased costs. I know I shall have the whole House with me when I say that this would be a disaster of the first magnitude to British industry, and would postpone, perhaps for ever, the chances of our national recovery. It is for this reason that we say hon. Members opposite are gambling with the future of this country for purely party reasons, as the hon. Member for Wednesbury very honestly admitted a short while ago.
  Mr. Albu: Would the hon. Gentleman give the House some reason for thinking that costs in the steel industry will rise?
  Mr. Lindsay: I was about to do so. I say that the nationalisation of the steel industry would result in increased costs, first because of the expectations that it would arouse among the workers in the industry. That point was very well made by the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards) just now, when he said that when he visited steel works and asked the men what they thought about it they said: "Well, if the industry is nationalised, the steel works will be working for the workers' wages and not for the profits of the boss." I can say that I was told the very same thing last October when I went round steel works in Scotland; that is exactly what the men said to me.
  There is no doubt that the nationalisation of the steel industry would arouse great expectations of wage increases on the part of the workers, particularly, of course, the lesser-paid workers. As one man said to me, "Look what happened to the miners." He knows perfectly well, and others with him, that the miners have got more money since nationalisation, so the steel workers are, quite naturally
  1556
  from their point of view, in favour of nationalisation. No wonder the hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Maclay) said that he thought nationalisation would "spell the doom" of the good relations now existing in the industry between management and man. Such expectations as will undoubtedly be aroused will have to be assuaged by wage increases. Perhaps if you, Mr. Speaker, had not had your attention distracted, I should have been called to Order for developing this argument on Third Reading. I therefore will not take it any further.
  The hon. Member for Edmonton (Mr. Albu) seemed surprised that nationalisation would result in increased costs. What about the administrative costs under the Bill? What about Clauses 1 and 6, which concern the setting up and functioning of the Corporation and the Consumers' Council and committees? I believe that they will result in very small increased extra charges compared with the wage increases, but I do not think we have ever been told even a global figure for the administrative costs resulting from the nationalisation of the industry.
  I have consumer councils on my notes, but I do not wish to pursue this matter much further because it has already been widely discussed. I was glad that the Minister saw fit very largely to accept my hon. Friends' suggestions in the new Clause he very wisely tabled in place of Clause 6. I am sure Members opposite will agree that the interests of the consumers and the question of protecting them has been one of the weakest features in the nationalisation Measures we have had so far. Is there any Member opposite who can suggest that any successful attempt has been made, or any attempt at all, to protect the users of coal, gas, electricity and transport against the continual increases in costs, or that the users of steel will be any better protected than the others? I doubt very much whether Parliament, in getting the annual report which is to be made by the Consumers' Council to the Minister, will have any effective supervision of the Corporation and the Minister's directions to it.
  As my hon. Friend the Member for Ecclesall (Mr. P. Roberts) pointed out, it is most important, if these reports are to amount to anything at all, that they

  1557
  should come into the hands of Parliament while they are still fresh. They will not be of very much value if they merely refer to events which have taken place some 12 months previous. A very good example of that is the first report of the National Coal Board, which was 18 months out of date when Parliament first had an opportunity to discuss it. For this reason, I should have preferred a quarterly or at least a half-yearly report laid before Parliament.
  I should like to conclude by referring briefly to Clause 11 and this vexed question of the vesting date. This point has been argued very well and thoroughly during the Committee stage, by my hon. Friends to whose pertinacity and excellent work I should like to pay tribute. I do not want to go over this ground again, but will content myself by saying that if the Bill goes through in July of this year, the most he can hope for, the Minister will have only eight or nine months before the first possible vesting date. The Minister says that this period is enough to give time for the Corporation to be set up and familiarise itself with its duties so as to be able to take over these immense responsibilities on 1st May, 1950. If he really thinks that, I give up all hope for the future of this country. Quite obviously, it is the plainest nonsense that has been spoken in Parliament at any rate since I have been a Member of this House. It will give us on this side no satisfaction whatever if this industry, having been nationalised, is to fail, because if it does so, it will bring discredit upon the nation of which we are so proud to belong, and will cause the greatest possible misery to a great number of our fellow countrymen.
  6.35 p.m.
  Mr. Ewart: It is my intention to touch on one or two points that have been made by Members opposite, but before doing so, I want to say to the Minister that the trade unions and the workers in the steel industry welcome this Bill; it is a Measure they have worked for and advocated for many years, and they have found in it the fulfilment of their hopes and the promises made to them by the Labour Party.
  Mr. A. Edwards: Can the hon. Member give some evidence of the numerical strength to support that contention?
  Mr. Ewart: I shall touch on that in the course of my remarks. I very much doubt whether the hon. Member could give us any measure of opinion from the ranks of the workers.
  Mr. Edwards: It is impossible to get it.
  Mr. Ewart: He said that only 25 per cent. of the opinion in the trade union movement had been touched, but assuming that 25 per cent. has been plumbed, it is a considerable opinion in favour of or against any Measure. The decisions of the national executive, congresses and conferences of the principal unions in the steel industry have been in favour of the nationalisation of this industry. I found it very difficult to follow the speech of the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards). In a letter to the Press over the weekend, in answer to a trade union official, he says that he will accept a challenge to debate the merits or otherwise of this Measure. He says that the trade union official must be wrong because he believes in the nationalisation as accepted by the Government, at the time when the hon. Member was advocating the principles of this Bill.
  Mr. Edwards: It is also true that the majority of Members opposite condemned my proposals to the party, and so I cannot follow his argument.
  Mr. Ewart: Assuming the Government have accepted the proposals of the hon. Member, he proceeds today to argue against them, either because he was not sincere when he made them, or because he is suffering from "sour grapes" through having been cast from the ranks of the Party.
  Mr. Edwards: I am sure the hon. Member does not want to mistake my position. What I said and discussed with Cabinet Ministers was that I could find no justification for interfering with the steel industry with its present record, but that, if they insisted, this was the least harmful way of doing the job without interfering with the structure of the industry.
  Mr. Ewart: My hon. Friend the Member for Wednesbury (Mr. S. N. Evans) read out an extract of a previous speech of the hon. Member which showed quite definitely that he was in favour of the nationalisation of this industry without qualification, but eventually he turns to these new proposals and says, in his

  1559
  egoism, that he believes the Government have accepted his suggestions, but then repudiates them because he says they are against the national interests.
  Mr. Edwards: I believed in nationalisation in 1946 as much as the hon. Member, but the party did not carry through the proposals we discussed at that time. This Bill is nothing like the proposals we then discussed. The party rejected the original proposals and adopted this Bill. We have had experience of nationalising industries since then, and it is because of that experience that I have changed my mind.
  Mr. Ewart: I do not think we need pursue that matter further. We can leave the hon. Member to justify his position when he meets his challenger in the debate on the North-East Coast.
  The hon. Member also talked about the opinion of the workers in the industry. But the hon. Member has never been in touch with that opinion, either when he represented them as a Socialist or since. I base my remarks on the statement, previously made by the hon. Member, that those in industry who took unofficial strike action should have their ration cards stopped, and that trade unions who advocated such action in time of emergency in the post-war period, should have their assets frozen. The hon. Member's Hitlerite attitude shows that he has no authority whatever to speak for the workers in the industry.
  The hon. Member argued that the proposals of the Bill were purely academic and were taken from the book of theory. He also said that 50 per cent. of the workers in the industry in his constituency were unemployed at one time. I maintain that the workers in the industry have not based their views on any book theory; they have based them on practical experience of working over the past 20 years. They remember the dismal days of 50 per cent. unemployed; they remember when Middlesbrough was poverty stricken and destitute, when Cleveland, the ironstone industry area, was fed from soup kitchens, when Jarrow had 90 per cent. unemployed who were described, in the words of Mr. Sean O'Casey, as "the dead above the earth."
  They also remember how, at the beginning of the war, they were called upon
  1560
  for concerted action, and how, under the Government's direction, price-fixing and control, the industry not only met the demands of the war but has since met the demands of the post-war era. They have tasted the experience of Government control and price-fixing and they believe in the policy of nationalisation, particularly as it would affect the iron and steel industry. That is the foundation on which the trade unions and the Labour Party have created the structure of nationalisation in this and other industries. The Bill is welcomed not merely because it is a new charter, but because experiences in wage negotiations over the past few years have been put to good use in the Bill.
  I turn now to the speech of the right hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Lyttelton), who said that the Bill would undermine trade union influence and that it would frustrate the trade unions in their negotiations and wage-fixing arrangements with the Corporation. Clause 39 lays down clearly the terms on which the structure of the future wage-making policy in the industry is to be based and established. It lays down in law, for the first time, that the present structure, the design and policy of collective bargaining, is a guide to be followed. It also refers to certain aspects of health and welfare conditions. In the past, the plea for better health and welfare conditions has been met with the answer that the industry could not afford them. The industry, we have been told, could not afford to look after primary health and welfare necessaries. In particular, the underground iron ore industry has been the Cinderella. It has been neglected for many years. There has been no semblance either of health or welfare services in that section of the industry in Cumberland or Cleveland because, it has been said, of the uneconomic state of the industry. That is a section of the industry, which compared with other sections, has had the highest toll of fatal and non-fatal accidents—
  Colonel Lancaster: I hope the hon. Member is confining his remarks to that part of the country to which he has referred, because I should require something far more definite before I accepted what he has said about the iron ore industry and the men employed in that industry in other areas. It certainly does not apply in the Midlands.
  Mr. Ewart: I was referring to the underground workings of the iron ore industry, and I said so. There is only one mine in the Midlands, and most of the iron ore is extracted from the surface.
  The right hon. Member for Aldershot asked how future strikes in the industry would be affected by this Measure. The industry has a proud record. For 40 years there has been no strike. In the underground mining section there has not been one day's stoppage, although the workers in this section went through very bleak and difficult times between the wars when, quite often, they worked for three days and were then stood off for three days. Those men had to seek charity in order to keep going. Despite that there has not been one day's strike. The bitter experience of workers in the industry has taught them that their future salvation lies in complete Government direction and control. That is the goal to which they are working, and that is why they welcome the Bill. The right hon. Member for Aldershot also asked to whom the trade unions would appeal when trade unionism in the industry had been undermined. The answer is that they will appeal to arbitration; they have no intention of attempting to take advantage of nationalisation. They will use the solid, constructive machinery which has been well proven over the last 10 years. I have no qualms at all about the attitude of organised workers towards their trade unions. Trade unionists welcome what has been done in this Bill as a necessary step in our social and economic progress.
  We on this side pay our tribute to the Minister, whose good common sense in taking the opinion and advice of all sections of the industry has played so great a part in producing many of the Clauses in the Bill. Not the least is the Clause referring to the Consumers' Council. The Opposition have quite rightly taken credit for improving that Clause and I believe it is one of the principal Clauses in the Bill. The consuming industries will have a say in this council and the workers will have a say by representation on it. The policy which the Government have fostered since 1949, which has created in this country comparatively full employment, with the distribution of the raw materials and the assets of the nation to the priority interests, will continue under national ownership.
  6.51 p.m.
  Sir Peter Bennett: I should like to start where the junior Member for Sunderland (Mr. Ewart) left off. He talked about the interests of the consumer, which is the particular interest that I wish to put before the House. I was not on the Standing Committee which considered this Bill, and during the period when it was at work I was abroad in connection with the production drive. I returned in time for the Report stage, and I heard a considerable amount of talk about protecting the consumers' interests. It is strange to me that the consumer has been considered so little under this Bill. During the Second Reading there was a certain amount of talk about the Bill being necessary in order that efficiency might be increased for the future development of the industry and, as one hon. Member paraphrased it during the afternoon, for more and more and cheaper steel.
  Steel by itself is of no great value. It has to be manufactured, and the users of steel, which includes the companies with which I am associated, do not feel that this Bill is being introduced for their benefit. Of course, there may be many who approve of it, but they are singularly quiet about it. During my journeys up and down the country I have not met any of them, but I have found that there is universal condemnation of the Bill. Steel is the lifeblood of our industries. We who use steel have had our differences with the producers. We have always had differences with those from whom we buy. Buyers and sellers do not always see eye to eye, and it is the essence of business progress that we should have these differences, otherwise there would be complacency, and that would breed stagnation.
  We who buy steel feel that the steel industry has done us well in the post-war years. A number of hon. Members today have condemned the pre-war record of the Iron and Steel Federation. The hon. Member for Montrose (Mr. Maclay) gave the House some of the facts, and reminded us of the very bad period through which iron and steel passed during the world depression. It will be remembered that in 1932, when tariffs were granted, the Import Duties Advisory Committee, known commonly as I.D.A.C., were appointed supervisors to see that the industry behaved itself and did not take

  1563
  advantage of the public. We saw I.D.A.C. and we had a promise from them that they would rationalise the industry, and when that process was completed all out-of-date plants would be closed down and we would get a more concentrated and efficient industry, which would provide us with still cheaper steel.
  That did not happen, and I was one of those who went to see the I.D.A.C. people to inquire the cause. At that time I was working for the Government in certain directions and I was told the reason in private. It was that I.D.A.C. had Government instructions that they were not to close down any of the old-fashioned plants. It was not their decision; it was superimposed by His Majesty's Government, because they said that every ton of steel was going to be necessary when and if war came. When war did come, we were very thankful that those out-of-date and obsolete plants had been retained because even with every ton of steel we could produce we had not enough, and we had to go to America and ask for more. Hon. Members should not blame present managements for out-of-date plants now. There would have been a national reconstruction of the industry had it not been for the war emergency and the special orders of the Government.
  Since the war, steel has been the bright spot. Speaking as a user of these materials, I should explain that we keep a very close record of all prices and I have a chart in my hand showing the prices of lead, zinc, fabricated parts, insulated material, brass, copper and steel compared with 1939. Lead and zinc are up really 600 per cent.; copper, brass, insulating material and fabricated parts are up about 180 per cent.; while steel —the hon. Member for Montrose Burghs talked about 70 per cent. but that is basic and we have to buy it manufactured in certain directions—is round about 100 per cent. on the average. We are certainly very grateful to the steel industry for what they have done. The House will understand me when I say that the users of steel have no desire for this Bill which is receiving its Third Reading today. We are convinced that the nationalisation of the industry is not being done in the industry's interests, but as a political measure, as has been
  1564
  repeatedly stated on the other side of the House. Being a businessman, I am very adverse to mixing up business and politics.
  Another point I want to make is that certain promises were made that compensation would take account of the money that was invested in all forward planning and development. I feel very strongly because this has not been done. From my, experience, I can say that a Stock Exchange valuation is not one by which businesses can be bought. Perhaps hon. Members opposite have not had that experience, but in my time I have bought up other concerns and it cannot be done on a Stock Exchange valuation. Certain shares can be bought by that means, because the Stock Exchange is organised to deal with the odd lots which go on to the market. It is not organised to buy up large concerns. I feel very strongly on this point, because I was chairman of the Committee to which was remitted 15 months ago, the task of endeavouring to assist the Chancellor of the Exchequer in stabilising prices. We were to try to get reduced prices in order that wages might be stabilised.
  We know what a difficult job it is to get prices down through the whole range of industry. We found that we had not very much success, so we put forward the suggestion that we might try to persuade industry to freeze its dividends so as to show willingness. We took a lot of trouble and it was a very difficult task, but we got industry to freeze its dividends at the request of the Government, in order to help in the national task.
  I am not very popular in many quarters because the Stock Exchange valuation is to be used as the price at which shares are to be taken over by the Government. I listened last week to the arguments of my good friend the Parliamentary Secretary. It is to his credit that he has not done much gambling on the Stock Exchange. He tried to persuade us that profits which are ploughed back into industry are fully reflected in Stock Exchange prices. Well, it is not so, although there is just an element of truth in it.
  The Stock Exchange looks askance at companies which distribute up to the hilt and do not put a certain amount of their profits to reserve. A company is expected to do that. When it has done that, and has dealt with its reserves, the Stock

  1565
  Exchange valuation is based upon the dividend paid. If a company does as has been asked by the Government, and as I persuaded them a year ago, and puts all their extra profits to reserve and uses them in the business, the Stock Exchange reaction is: "The dividend will remain where it is. Prices will be maintained." At some future date when they think that this policy is going to bear fruit and there is to be an increase in the dividend, they may anticipate it, and the shares go up. When a company says, instead of putting profit to reserve and ploughing it back: "We shall put a reasonable amount away and we shall use the rest to pay an increased dividend," everybody knows that Stock Exchange prices will go up.
  Directors of companies who put the national interest first are being penalised. As for the argument of the Parliamentary Secretary that they will get gilt-edged—and he made a song about it—well, of course they will. They could have got gilt-edged and put their money in gilt-edged at any time, but they chose to go into equities because they wanted a bigger return. Now they are to be forced, against their will, to get gilt-edged when they want equities in order to get a bigger return. We are told that they must be public-spirited in the national interest. It is very easy to tell somebody else to be public-spirited, but they have suffered.
  It came to my mind when I was discussing this question with other hon. Members that I have had to deal with cases in which there was a proposal to take over allotments in order to build houses or a school. No doubt other hon. Members have had a similar experience. I have had a spate of indignant letters. I have had to explain that the proposal was in the public interest, but people have not seemed to take it very well. They have always said that the houses or the school ought to be built somewhere else and that their own little plot ought not to be touched. It shows that the human element is very much the same wherever it is and whatever clothes it wears.
  What worried me last week was the all-embracing power that the Government are taking. The Minister made it clear that he was going to be guided by Parliament and that it was absurd to think that this all-embracing power would be wrong-
  1566
  fully used by a Minister. The right hon. Gentleman will not always be there. We do not know who will be there in future. In this Bill we are giving statutory powers, through the Minister, to the Corporation to use the memoranda of companies to do anything they like or know. My hon. and learned Friend the Member for Wirral (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd) has read out what can be done. We are giving statutory powers and the Minister would not have any check put upon them —so that the Corporation can do anything it likes. When the memorandum of a company is drawn up, the usual instruction, to the lawyers is that they should make it as wide as possible, "so that we are never held back by our memorandum."
  Those are the powers on which the Minister has refused to put any limitation. He says that Parliament is the watchdog and that the Minister will never do anything he ought not to do. We have not had much chance with the other nationalised industries of being able to act as watchdog. The Minister of Transport has not given us much help when we have tried to criticise. He has said that these matters were outside the scope of Parliamentary control and that Questions could not be asked.
  It is very dangerous to give statutory powers to anyone to do what can be done under the Bill, as drafted. Up till now, the Government have been nationalising services, things that follow on after the primary things. Now we are nationalising creative industry for the first time. We are nationalising the result of generations of enterprise and adventure, of trial and error, obstacles surmounted, financial difficulties overcome. It has been no easy road. This is the reward for all the struggle, adventure and effort that have been put into the industry.
  I have been in business all my life, as I have said, except for five years when I was in a Government Department. I can therefore make a comparison. I know what it is like to run a business with colleagues who trust you, work with you and stand by you when things go wrong and in fair weather and foul, and with shareholders who, if you have done your duty by them, will trust you to do the right thing; I have had it, and I know what can be done in those conditions. I also know how difficult it is to get a move on in a Govern-

  1567
  ment Department. One must not make a mistake or take any risk, because of using the taxpayers' money. I can assure hon. Members that there is a vast difference.
  We have been asked by Ministers to adventure, to go out into the world to make markets and to create business to get dollars. It is not really encouraging, particularly when one looks at this Bill and remembers the promise of more to follow. Perhaps the Minister has not heard the story of little Albert. Some of his colleagues may tell him the answer of the mother to the keeper who suggested that, having lost one child, she could have plenty more. That is what very many people are saying today. The mother's answer was: "Not very likely." I believe that the Government are doing a very great national disservice in introducing this Measure for political purposes, when we are living upon American dollars. Remember that 1952 will bring us to the greatest crisis in our national history. If there is not the full measure of adventure for which Ministers are asking today, the blame must to a certain extent be put upon the Government.
  We often hear a young man say: "There is no chance in this country. I want to go to one of the new countries." We have often heard older men say: "If I had my time over again I would not stop in this country." I think they are wrong, entirely wrong. There are many reasons, and I often argue with them. I will give the House only one reason. We are often reminded that this is a democratic country. Thank God for it. We are not serving a life sentence. The gentlemen who occupy the Government Front Bench today will not always be there.
  7.10 p.m.
  Mr. George Thomas: The Bill is probably the last major nationalisation Measure which we shall consider in this Parliament. It has received a fanfare of publicity in the country but the arguments which have been advanced from the other side during this Debate have been doctrinaire in the highest degree. The Opposition like to accuse hon. Members on this side of the House of being purely doctrinaire but the hon. Member for Edgbaston (Sir P. Bennett) gave us a perfect example of the doctrinaire Tory putting forward his point
  1568
  of view in this House. I am sorry to accuse the hon. Member of being doctrinaire in anything but he certainly was this afternoon.
  Sir P. Bennett: It is the first time I have ever been called that.
  Mr. Thomas: It is quite possible that, like the hon. Member's story, my words have been a little milder than they ought to have been. The hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards) referred to some of his expeditions in South Wales. Part of the publicity on which hon. Members opposite have embarked during the past six months has been to enlist the aid of so-called nonpolitical organisations in order to hold meetings to stir up opinion against this Bill. The hon. Member had an organisation centred in the Midlands called, I believe, the Economic League.
  Mr. A. Edwards: No, it was called the Aims of Industry.
  Mr. Thomas: The Aims of Industry made representations to ministers of churches in various parts including the minister of my own chapel. The organisation said, "We are an entirely nonpolitical organisation, and we just want to hold a nice general meeting to discuss the aims of industry." The hall was let to it and it paid the fee in advance. It then produced the speaker, the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough, who was to speak on the nationalisation of steel. That is not the end of this remarkable story. One night I had a telephone call at my house from that die-hard Tory newspaper, the "Western Mail," telling me that the hon. Gentleman was posting a letter to me inviting me to debate with him, and the "Western Mail" wanted to know in advance what my answer to him would be. I gave them an answer, and they asked if they should publish it, and I said, "No, not that one." I wish they had published it. If the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough is fair, he will tell the House that in South Wales he had a hostile reception when he tried to oppose the nationalisation of steel in the Rhondda and in Cardiff.
  Mr. A. Edwards: I am glad to take this opportunity of correcting the hon. Member. On the contrary, my first meeting was right in the lion's den at Ebbw Vale and while it was a very cool

  1569
  reception, there was a very warm ovation at the end. Other meetings I had were very well attended and the people were more willing to listen at the end than at the beginning. It is quite wrong to say that I had a bad reception. The only rowdy meeting was in Cardiff at which there were 1,500 people.
  Mr. Thomas: That is remarkable. I know the hall in which the hon. Gentleman spoke at Cardiff. It is the Cory Hall, Cardiff, and it holds 900. There is no doubt that in South Wales at least the Bill is welcome. It is an indication that the Labour Party are keeping faith with the people. We are fulfilling our pledged word, and the steel workers of Cardiff are hoping that this Measure will not be delayed too long in another place.
  Mr. Maclay: I believe that the hon. Member was present when I spoke. Can he honestly say that his party is fulfilling its promise to the electors? I produced arguments to show that the whole Mandate was completely "phoney" from beginning to end.
  Mr. Thomas: The hon. Gentleman has reminded me of a speech he made upstairs during the Committee stage. He could not recall what he had been saying and when he drew this to the attention of the Committee, the Chairman said that he had also forgotten what the hon. Member had been saying. I have not forgotten what the hon. Gentleman said today but I entirely disagree with the basis of his argument. I believe it was perfectly clear in 1945 that we stood for the nationalisation of the steel industry, and now we are embarked upon the fulfilment of our pledged word.
  The hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. M. Lindsay) raised the question of the shortage of gifted people to serve on the Corporation. He suggested that there were only one or two men in the entire world who were able to assume the responsibility of that job. Obviously he did not think much of some of his right hon. Friends who have had experience in industry. It is fantastic to suggest that the Iron and Steel Federation would collapse if two of the men who are at present at the helm were to disappear. Industry produces its leaders just as does the world of politics, the world of art and the world of science.
  1570
  The Bill is another step on the way to full industrial democracy in Great Britain. There was nothing democratic about the old system. There was a man with a whip, and if people wanted to fight back they were called the enemies of society. However, I happen to have lived amongst the people. Hon. Members opposite must not forget that even the youngest of us on this side of the House have memories which could make us bitter against the system which they have defended and out of which their friends in the country have not done too badly. We have seen our own people held back and we now find that this Bill will give the steel workers new rights in industry.
  The right hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Lyttelton) complained that the Bill had not received the discussion which it might have had upstairs. Some of us were very quiet upstairs. We spoke but little in order to give the Opposition their full opportunity to put forward the points which they desired, and the Guillotine system was so applied that the maximum of time was given to each of the major points with which the Opposition wished to deal. I earnestly hope that this Bill will not be delayed too long before it becomes an Act, and I rejoice that it has been my privilege to speak in support of this Third Reading.
  7.20 p.m.
  Mr. Erroll: The hon. Member for Central Cardiff (Mr. G. Thomas) certainly on the Committee stage allowed us a full measure of time, and only this evening has given us his somewhat passionate and emotional views on the nationalisation of this industry. In dealing with such a matter of fact as the nationalisation of an industry, it is impossible for me to reach those heights of delicate emotionalism to which the hon. Member customarily ascends in this House, and so I hope I shall be forgiven if I do not follow his disquisition.
  When the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport was promoted to be the Minister of Supply—I am sorry that he has just had to leave the Chamber —we all expected an ingenious Bill to nationalise the iron and steel industry, and certainly the method which the Minister has selected is extremely ingenious. It has a two-faced merit about it because the method selected, namely, to form a holding company to be the sole

  1571
  owner of the shares of a large number of companies specified in the Third Schedule, enables the Minister and, indeed, the Government and their supporters, to say to those who are worried about the possibility of dislocation in the industry that nothing is being done to change the nature of it.
  On the other hand, if the Left wing Members of their party demand more, the Minister can turn round and say, "By this Bill we get a finger in every pie. With this Bill we are able to run a Trojan horse into every stronghold of the capitalist system." The Minister ingeniously gets the best of both worlds, and it is interesting to speculate on the son of a great capitalist exercising his brains, talent and ingenuity to devise so clever and diabolically ingenious a system of expropriation as this for this great industry.
  The Bill proposes in Part I to set up a Corporation. We have preferred to call it a board because it is to be nothing more, so we are told, than a holding company for the shares of the 101 publicly-owned companies. But it is impossible to believe that this Corporation will be nothing more than a small holding company because already, during the discussions on this Bill, it has become clear that the holding company will have many additional duties other than those of a normal holding company. We have been told, for example, that development work is to proceed much more rapidly. There are to be new and expansive development plans. How are these development plans to be initiated? How are they to be controlled, coordinated and evolved? It can only be done by the Corporation employing a considerable staff. How are the complicated accounts to be finalised? How is the balance to be achieved, "taking one year with another"? That can only be done by a small army of accountants if the complicated accounts of 101 publicly owned companies are to be reviewed, all to be brought to their own balances—
  Mr. Lyttelton: There will need to be palmists on the staff.
  Mr. Erroll: As my right hon. Friend has suggested, there will need to be some palmists and astrologers on the staff as well if a proper balance is to be achieved. How are the dividends to be decided
  1572
  upon for all the publicly-owned companies without a great measure of investigation and detailed work by the Corporation? Are we, indeed, to witness the surprising possibility of the British Iron and Steel Federation perhaps remaining in existence and giving its assistance to the new Corporation once the Bill is through? It would indeed be a curious paradox if one were to see such a thing happen. Many of the centralising functions of the industry are performed today by the Iron and Steel Federation, and I cannot see how the new Corporation, if it ever comes into being, will be able to function without a similar centralising machine.
  Such a central organisation may be all right in a system of competition and private ownership such as exists in the industry today, but it will be different in a national monopoly because nobody need care very much. If one no longer has control of dividend policy, it is surprising what a difference it can make to the virility of a company. The Government will take away one of the most important aspects of control which the board of a company can possess, namely, control of financial policy. That will take a great deal of the zest, the enthusiasm, and the desire for efficiency out of the managements of the publicly-owned companies.
  We have been assured by the Minister on a number of occasions that nothing is to be changed; the boards of directors will remain as well as the executive managements below them. At the same time a great measure of the independent responsibility of those boards of directors will be taken away and transferred to a large block of offices in London or a large country house, maybe in the Midlands. We have heard little about the way this Corporation will work, either because the Government have not thought it out at all or because they dare not say in advance what a cumbersome bureaucracy they must inevitably create.
  In the meantime, management at all levels will be in a state of doubt and disillusionment. It will not know who its new masters will be. It will not know what plans can go ahead and what must be restricted. Hanging over the board of every company are the vicious penal Clauses of Part II of the Bill, which is designed to prevent dissipation of assets

  1573
  but displays that same diabolical ingenuity and insight which stamps the Bill with a certain distinguished authorship.
  Instead of the great development which hon. Members opposite wish to have, we shall have a period of stagnation in this industry if the Bill goes through, if only because of the new loyalties and the new chains of responsibility which will have to be sorted out. It is plain that there is no real development plan for this industry other than that which the industry has evolved already. The Government have on no occasion said what they would do to increase steel production, what they would do to raise output to that level to which an undistinguished professor of economics has said it should be increased, namely, to 26 million tons a year. The Government have certainly not said how they would sell 26 million tons, yet the shortage is rapidly being overtaken by the present rate of production.
  The hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. S. N. Evans) asked the Opposition to deal with certain propositions. While I cannot deal with them all, I will take up the problem of the large integrated plant. Of course, there are great difficulties as one closes down small, old plants and builds up large new ones. I venture to suggest, however, that that phase of the integration of the steel industry is probably drawing to a close, and while one may point to difficult examples in the past, I doubt if many more are likely to occur, if only for the reason given by the hon. Member for Wednesbury, that the new plants are located on the coast rather than on native ore beds, with the exceptions in Northamptonshire. I doubt, therefore, whether that problem which the hon. Member poses is likely to arise to any very great extent. Even if it does, what is the Government's remedy for that dilemma? The Government have been singularly silent on this matter, and it must be remembered that this difficult development has nevertheless been satisfactorily achieved in the past 15 years with the industry independent of, but nevertheless working with, the Government of the day.
  The Corporation, of course, is not to be sole master of its own affairs. Throughout the Bill, the Minister retains very wide powers of his own. He
  1574
  possesses a Ministerial discretion out of all proportion to the responsibilities which Parliament should give him. He should have sought the minimum powers necessary for the efficient execution of his responsibilities, instead of which, whenever he has been confronted by some especial vagueness in the Bill, he has appropriated to himself considerable new discretionary powers and then has blandly assured us that Parliament would be able to have its say. All this reveals such a difference in outlook.
  Ministers and Government supporters seem to think that because a person has a say, that is the same thing as having an effect. Ministers seem to treat consumers' councils as safety valves where steam may be blown off. They do not seem to treat consumers' councils as what they should be but, of course, never can be—effective weapons for putting things right. This they never can be by their very nature. We have only to look at what is, perhaps, the oldest consumers' council of all—and in this I hope that my hon. Friend the Member for Moseley (Sir P. Hannon) will not take me amiss; I refer to the Post Office Advisory Council. I wonder how many people bother to write to that consumers' council when their letters arrive late? It is not the fault of the distinguished members who make up the Council, of whom one is sitting behind me now. It is the fault of the system that an advisory councilor consumers' council, to use the modern nomenclature—is a quite inappropriate method of gettings things put right, which is a very different thing from having a say.
  Sir Patrick Hannon: The efficiency of an advisory council, as I understand it, depends upon the responsible Minister at the head acting on the advice given to him by the Council.
  Mr. Erroll: That is very true. Therefore, it scarcely surprises me that the Post Office Council have been able to make so little progress in the last couple of years.
  Sir P. Hannon: This is really taking liberties with the progress of this Debate. The Post Office Council can give a very good account of themselves at the appropriate time.
  Mr. Erroll: I am sure that the Council does its best, but it is impeded by a very simple Minister.
  Then we are told that the Consumers' Council which is to be set up in Part I of the Bill is to have workers' representation on it so that they may have their say, which is another example, although a mild one, of "Jobs for the boys." I suggest that a worker in one of the consuming industries is not an appropriate person to have on a consumers' council. In industrial production men must work as a team and each man should have his job, just as in a game of football one must have not only the captain, but the goalkeeper and the forwards as well. It is no good telling everybody to kick the goals and having nobody to save them.
  Mr. Sargood: Do not forget the referee.
  Mr. Erroll: Each man to his job. In our modern industrial technique the type of steel required is specified by the engineers, or the draughtsmen, and inspectors at the works make sure that steel of the correct specification is delivered, but it is no part of the job of the lathe operator or the welder to go along to a Consumers' Council and waste everybody's time. If he wishes to go in for that class of work, let him become a materials inspector.
  Mr. Stokes: is not the hon. Gentleman aware that the lathe operator is probably the man who knows more about the quality of steel than anybody else?
  Mr. Erroll: I should think, in many cases, exactly the reverse; that in a modern machine shop, provided the steel is to specification, the lathe operator does not need to know what is the exact quality or why that particular quality is being chosen. He certainly does not have the technical knowledge to be able to decide whether steel which may deviate a little from specification is acceptable or not, although those small deviations of quality might most properly be the subject of discussion in a Consumers' Council. The right people for Consumers' Councils are the materials inspectors in the consuming factories.
  Mr. J. Jones: Does the hon. Gentleman regard metallurgists, to whom he refers, as not being workers from whom
  1576
  representation could be made to the Consumers' Council?
  Mr. Erroll: The hon. Gentleman can broaden the word "worker" indefinitely, but the commonly accepted definition of "worker" is a manual operative.
  Mr. Stokes: No.
  Mr. J. Jones: That is a Tory conception.
  Mr. Erroll: It is a definition which is used when convenient by hon. Members opposite.
  Mr. Stokes: We do not use it—it is outdated.
  Mr. Erroll: If what is meant is that there should be technicians from the consuming factories, I have no quarrel, but I strongly suspect that what many hon. Members opposite really mean are chaps from the shop floor who want to have an easy afternoon off sitting round some consumers' council's table.
  Mr. Stokes: The hon. Member has no right to say that.
  Mr. Erroll: I have every right to say it. It is just what will happen, and I am not going to be dictated to by the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes).
  I now want to turn to Part II of the Bill, which deals with compensation, because I do not think that any review of the Bill should pass without some reference to the completely irresponsible attitude displayed by hon. Members opposite towards the issue of compensation. I wonder how they would like it if their property was being taken away and they were not properly paid in compensation? It is very good fun to take away other people's property and not pay enough for it—it is possible to put forward all sorts of specious justifications—but it is quite wrong to select the marginal prices which Stock Exchange values represent at present, particularly after the market has been rigged by a policy of voluntary dividend limitation. That is what it amounts to—rigging the market to keep prices down, so that one can get these businesses on the cheap. It is a mean trick and it will redound against hon. Members opposite; it will be remembered for a very long time indeed.
  It is particularly significant that when the Argentine Government proposed the same basis of compensation for the

  1577
  British railways in the Argentine the British Government refused to accept that as an equitable basis for compensation. Only the British shareholder has to put up with this type of injustice. Stock Exchange values have never been accepted as a proper basis for compensation. It may well be that they represent the price agreed between a willing buyer and a willing seller for a small amount of stock, but the shareholders in the iron and steel companies are not willing sellers; they do not want to sell out, nor do they want to get compensation stock. If they had wanted Government guaranteed stock they would have bought some gilt-edged security which already was available, but they did not want that; they wanted a share in the equity of the steel industry, and they are now being deprived of that right as well. They are not to be allowed to share in the risks, the profits and losses of the steel industry.
  Finally, there is the breach of faith in the matter of compensation for capital expenditure on development works. I well remember the previous Minister of Supply making his announcement in the House in 1946, when he said that a full and proper allowance would be made for any sums expended on development work. It is quite obvious to me that what he had in mind was a similar statement made a few months previously by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer in regard to compensation to the coal industry for current expenditure on new developments in the coal mines of this country. He never had in mind the basis of compensation by Stock Exchange values, and it is an ingenious twist on the part of the Government to suggest that Stock Exchange values can adequately reflect, and do adequately reflect, the amount of money being spent currently on development schemes. Everybody knows that it is not so and it is a thoroughly dishonest piece of work that we see perpetrated here today.
  Several references have been made by hon. Members opposite to the mood in the industry and to Part V of the Bill, which refers particularly to machinery for settling terms and conditions of employment. We have frequently heard, and we on the Committee heard until we were tired, the Parliamentary Secretary saying that the workers of the industry were doing this grand job of work in
  1578
  the hope of nationalisation. Will they keep up the grand job of work after the industry has been nationalised, because the coal miners have not been doing So?—[HON. MEMBERS: "They have."] They have not been working hard after nationalisation, so why should the workers in the steel industry? Ministers know well that it is not only a matter of hard work by grand men which has produced this record output.
  There is far more to it than that—the conversion to oil-firing for example, which has made greater output possible. Plant has also been kept running longer, plant which otherwise would be scrapped, but, by careful maintenance attention, careful planning and risk-taking by the executives, it has been kept in commission longer. Then we must not forget the sacrifice of many special qualities of steel and that many sizes were sacrificed because the Government required tonnage production above all else. It is not only the grand work of grand men to which the Parliamentary Secretary has been referring; a lot of other people have contributed.
  Mr. J. Jones: I said once before today that I defy anyone in this House, particularly hon. Members opposite, to find any speech of mine in this connection where the word "management" has not been used along with the word "men."
  Mr. Erroll: It is very good to have the Parliamentary Secretary's statement to that effect. I must say, however, that I think there are plenty of men who very much resent being labelled as in favour of nationalisation. The Parliamentary Secretary may surround himself with "yesmen" when he goes to the various factories, but the Minister had a very different reception when he went to the North-East coast nearly a year ago. He did not get the applauding audiences from the steel workers which he expected when he spoke of the nationalisation of iron and steel. We did not hear so much about that particular meeting nor the other meeting which was cancelled because he did not want to face the music. I think the Parliamentary Secretary should do a little better and not brag so blatantly about knowing all the views of all the men in the industry. There are plenty of grand men in that grand industry who keep their mouths shut because they might

  1579
  say some very rude things to the junior Minister of Supply if they opened them.
  I protest also about hon. Members opposite saying all the time that they know everyone in the industry is in favour of nationalisation. Have they taken steps to seek out those who are not in favour? They spend time forming little mutual admiration societies but I challenge any hon. Member opposite to say whether he went to seek out opposition. The only man who may have done so is the hon. Member for Brigg (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu), in that quaint way of his, by witch-hunting around the blast furnaces for naughty Tories who put improper pamphlets in pay-packets. Really no one does that but Tories. Shop stewards, of course, never indulge in propaganda. The hon. Member did himself less than justice. After all, he did win a by-election.
  It has been said that this is a political Measure and that is said by hon. Members on all sides, as indeed it is a political Measure.
  Mr. Stokes: On all sides?
  Mr. Erroll: On both sides it has been said that this is a political Measure. With that I am in full agreement, and it will have most serious political consequences for the party which is determined to make the Bill an Act.
  7.46 p.m.
  Mr. Chetwynd: I am glad to follow the hon. Member for Altrincham (Mr. Erroll) because I think his first introduction to the steel industry was to the same firm on the North-East, where I had my first introduction, and I dare say he was taken round by the same person who was certainly not one of the workers if I may use that term, but one of the executives of that firm.
  Mr. Erroll: I am sorry to interrupt the hon. Member but of course he is quite wrong. My first introduction to the steel industry was when I was 11 years old. I had another when I was 16, and I have seen the industry in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, South Africa, Canada and the United States. It just happens that my last contact was the first contact made by the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd).
  Mr. Chetwynd: I am quite prepared to accept that. I think the hon. Member
  1580
  made a most unfortunate reference in his speech when he more or less inferred that the ordinary worker in the industry was quite incapable of taking a proper place on a Consumers' Council. I think one of the advantages of this Bill is that it will enable the most humble person in the industry to rise to places hitherto barred to such persons. Speeches of hon. Members in the Opposition have followed pretty much a pattern. First there has been the argument that the Opposition did not have time on the Committee stage or elsewhere to debate this matter properly; then there was the view that vesting date was too soon; and finally there was a lot of emotion on the terms of compensation and reference to some pledge which was given, and which it is alleged was not fulfilled.
  I shall respect the figures I gave in an interruption to show that we on this side of the House did everything we could to enable hon. Members opposite to speak on anything on which they desired to speak on Committee stage. There were 700 speeches by hon. Members opposite to 390 speeches from our side of the Committee. The Front Bench of the Opposition—four main speakers—made 269 speeches; for all Opposition spokesmen the average was 35 speeches each, and on our side, the Front Bench made 210 speeches replying to the points put up from the Opposition and the overall average was 12.2 each. If the Opposition had planned their work properly, instead of each Front Bench speaker speaking on each Amendment and repeating the argument one after the other, they could have got through more Amendments than they did. This is clearly proved by their tactics on the Report stage, for when they wanted to get to compensation on recommittal they disposed of 60 Amendments in under three hours in order to get back to the ever-recurring demand for more adequate compensation.
  I am glad that my hon. Friend the Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards) is here. I still look upon him as an hon. Friend in spite of the fact that we disagree on this Measure. I am glad to see him here. I thought it would have been better if he had been here on Second Reading and also if he had done his best to get on to the Committee because he might have helped to improve the Bill with his knowledge. Instead of that he

  1581
  has chosen to follow the course of stumping up and down the country trying to work up opposition to this Measure. In spite of the superficial enthusiasm he has created, he must feel a very lonely person tonight. Not only has he, by his own attitude, cut himself off from his own party, but he has not received the enthusiastic support of the party opposite. I commend him for keeping his independent position when one compares it with the action of another hon. Gentleman who left his party for the same reason and very rapidly worked his way into another party.
  Tonight my hon. Friend told us of a number of what I might call private conversations, either with Cabinet Ministers or leaders of the iron and steel industry, from which he drew deductions that this Bill was the result of Left Wing pressure or was not wanted by the trade unionists concerned. I do not think that we can place much credence on reported conversations with other people, especially as meetings of the Cabinet are secret. I think it is true to say that throughout the country there is not much feeling about this Bill, but on Tees-side, mainly due to my hon. Friend, the local Press and the local trade unionists, it is a live issue and it has been kept going for the past two or three years, during which period my hon. Friend the Member for East Middlesbrough has gradually changed his position from that of 1945 when he supported the Government's programme.
  Here I have an extract from a newspaper of 18th June, 1945, in which my hon. Friend refers to how the steel ring's grip nearly robbed us of a big contract. He is probably familiar with the article in the "Daily Mirror" of that time, to which I am referring. He is reported as having said that the difference between the American price and the British price was largely explained by the vicious ring practice in this country
  "which makes an efficient steel plant add a quota per ton to its prices to compensate inefficient plants."
  That is a very good reason why this Bill has been forthcoming, and is one of the reasons why he supported nationalisation in 1945.
  He has gradually changed his mind from supporting a scheme whereby the Government should own all the share
  1582
  capital to an attitude of downright opposition at the moment when we have before us the scheme which he then advocated. His only reason is that in his opinion nationalisation has failed; I think I am being fair in saying that. The only test of that which we have at the present time is the coal industry. It would be a very rash man indeed who, when for the first time since the war, we have increased the entry into the industry, when our rate of production per man is higher than it was before the war, when we have made the best recovery in Europe, when we have now wiped out the deficit of the first year's working of the National Coal Board, and when we have definitely got a better spirit, would say that that was more than a very feeble reason for changing one's views about the steel industry.
  Mr. A. Edwards: In my speech quoted the greatest authority on coal production in the world, Sir Charles Reid. A few days after I left the Labour Party—and it is wrong to say that I left the party, I was turned out, I never chose to leave the party—Sir Charles said he was leaving his job because whatever we did, in spite of the 50 per cent. increase mechanisation, we still could not get more coal. May I also add that the Lord President of the Council laid it down that we were to leave 80 per cent. of our industries under private enterprise and that the onus of proof was on the nationalisers? Where is the evidence that nationalisation succeeds?
  Mr. Chetwynd: The answer is that even if the Conservative Party came back to power, they would not be willing to de-nationalise the industry; presumably my hon. Friend would.
  Viscount Hinchingbrooke: Do not speak for us.
  Mr. Chetwynd: I think that all the figures are against my hon. Friend.
  Turning to another reason why I feel that we must have this Bill, I would mention my hon. Friend's reference to the period when 50 per cent. of the insured population of Middlesbrough were walking the streets, out of work. He says that in that depression the boss lost as well. I am not disputing that. Of course the boss also lost. But the fact he mentioned is of the greatest social consequence, and we cannot ignore this

  1583
  grave social consequence of 50,000 people having been unemployed; that must be our paramount interest. That is surely one reason why we should have nationalisation. My hon. Friend said that if a depression comes again in our economy, and he thought there were signs of it, these men would again be out of work, but that the boss would not lose his capital and interest. Surely, if the Government are in control of this industry, we can see to it that by priming the industry with adequate supplies and funds, we can keep it in production? We need what the steel works produce. That is the Socialist remedy for any unemployment and depression which comes. I should have thought that an overwhelming argument in favour of the Bill.
  I turn to the speech of the right hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Lyttelton), who complained that this Bill replaced a private monopoly by a State monopoly which was all the more evil because no new entry to this industry was to be allowed. When, in the past 20 years, has there ever been any new entry to this industry which has not been sponsored by the Federation itself? Anyone who reflects on Jarrow and Ebbw Vale has sufficient proof to demolish that argument. The right hon. Gentleman is against the Bill because he says that nowhere in it is there provision for adequate Parliamentary control. The Bill contains case after case in which the Minister can give specific directions to the Corporation, to this body or that. Each one of these directions can be challenged and discussed in this House. It is taking a pretty poor view of Parliament to suggest that with all these provisions it still cannot find means of making its views felt. If a Member is prepared to persist and is not able to get a Question on the Order Paper, he can still write to the Corporation and get an answer, which is something that the ordinary person could not do when the industry was under private enterprise.
  We have dealt pretty exhaustively with the point as to whether 1st May is a reasonable date. Provided that we get the Bill this Summer—and it is in the hands of the Opposition whether it passes through the other place in decent time—we shall have ample time in which to put the Iron and Steel Cor-
  1584
  poration in order before 1st May. The right hon. Gentleman completely ignored the fact that the Minister has discretion, if things are not ready in time, to delay the vesting date by any period up to 18 months.
  The whole future of our industrial setup will be laid down in the next two or three years. We cannot build a steel plant now and scrap it in five or 10 years' time; it has to last a long time. It is essential that we should get the conditions right to begin with, that we should get the right relationship between management and men and between the industry and the consumer. I believe that this is being done by the provisions of Clause 39 and those which establish the Consumers' Council. The future of this industry will depend upon the speed of re-equipment. We all know that one-third of the equipment is obsolete through one cause or another. We all know that the industry's own plan for re-development will bring about major social upheavals in many parts of the country. We do not know whether Skinningrove or West Hartlepool will be closed down or not. If either of them is closed only the Government can be responsible for looking after the lives which will be involved there.
  I would enter a warning. Because we take over and this Corporation takes over, that fact does not mean that we shall immediately get increased production. The take-over will probably coincide with a breakdown of large parts of the machinery in the industry. It cannot be kept geared up through the war years and later with obsolete equipment and be expected to go on for ever. The breakdown will come some time; it is quite likely that it will come fairly soon. We must maintain adequate and increasing supplies of scrap. That is not at all easy at the present time. We must maintain adequate supplies of coke. It may be that if by any failure in any of these three parts, there might be some diminution of production, that would immediately be laid at the door of nationalisation. It would be said that it failed because it was nationalised, whereas it would have failed in any case.
  Mr. A. Edwards: Has the hon. Member taken into consideration the new plant in South Wales which is coming into operation?
  Mr. Chetwynd: I am hoping that because of this, we shall not be caught out in this way, and because of what is going on in the North East with the Dorman Long Universal Beam Mill. I hope these new plants will be speedily completed and in production. I hope that this Bill will give complete powers to the industry and the Corporation to engage in the fullest research to produce the most efficient and cheapest steel possible. Complaints have been made that there has been no mention in the Bill of production. In an Act of Parliament production is not dealt with, but time after time, the Minister has made appeals for increased production, and I am convinced that, with each separate company under the Corporation acting in a spirit of emulation, and not cut-throat competition, we shall get an increased output. I am also convinced that this Bill has been wisely drawn, and that there will be no dislocation whatever in the industry.
  8.2 p.m.
  Colonel Lancaster: The House has just listened to what I think was a most sincere speech by the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd). In the latter part of his speech he made a genuine attempt to be constructive. I do not wish to come between him and the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards), although I think that it is fair to say that if a Member of Parliament genuinely feels that a mistake has been made, then, to whatever party he belongs, he is best serving the interests of his country if he makes his change of attitude known up and down the country. I hope the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees will not think me patronising if I suggest that he should not get mixed up in coal statistics. In coal mining the only figure of any importance is how much is produced per year by the individual worker. I ask the hon. Member to go home and ponder over the fact that in 1948 this country was producing at the rate of 100 million tons less than in 1938. It takes a bit of working out, but he will find that that is so.
  I find myself in the peculiar position of speaking for the second time in the lifetime of this Parliament in regard to an industry with which I have been associated nearly all my life and which
  1586
  is becoming nationalised. On this occasion my feelings are somewhat different from the previous occasion, because I think this may be something of a passing phase. Nevertheless, I have been naturally concerned to discover if there was something in this Measure which had not emerged on Second Reading, but which would justify me in changing my approach to this problem.
  Obviously I must appear biased. I am connected, in one way or another, with half a dozen concerns which appear in the Third Schedule. Nevertheless I believe it is possible to approach this problem with a reasonably unbiased attitude. Although I was not a Member serving on the Committee, as there was another Committee sitting at the same time, I have very carefully read what the Minister and what other hon. Members opposite have said. I cannot for the life of me, from the purely material point of view—and that is the point of view from which I do approach these problems— see that the case has in any way been proved. I say "material" advisedly. In the long run my philosophy of these matters is that unless we have a successful industry we do not serve the welfare, either of the people in the industry or the nation at large. So far, nothing has emerged, and no proof has been put forward, which would make one feel that there is justification for this Measure.
  I can only claim to have any knowledge of this industry from two aspects, the production of iron ore and some knowledge of blast furnace work. Strangely enough, throughout the discussion on this Bill hardly any reference at all has been made to those two aspects of the industry. After all, this is an Iron and Steel Bill, and in the last resort steel cannot be produced without an adequate supply of iron ore. In that connection I wish to bring the hon. and learned Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) into the argument, because he has played quite a prominent part in the discussions on this Bill. He has very often made reference to the steel works of Corby. While he was right to do so, as Corby is one of the great steel-producing entities of this country, the hon. and learned Member does at the same time represent an area of the country which produces as much iron ore as any part of the British Isles. In fact, the iron ore product

  1587
  in that part of Northamptonshire possibly exceeds in importance even the steel works at Corby. There may be some reason why the hon. and learned Member has never made reference to the production of iron ore. It may well be that he has come to the conclusion, either through experience or knowledge, that he was getting on dangerous ground when discussing iron ore in relation to this Bill—
  Mr. Mitchison: If the hon. and gallant Member will look at the Committee proceedings he will find a very long discussion on the methods of iron ore production, in which I think there was a very strong feeling in the Committee on possible steps which should be taken to get that part of Northamptonshire restored after the damage which is being done to it now, and which has been done in the past, by iron ore mining companies.
  Colonel Lancaster: I beg the pardon of he hon. and learned Member. I am aware of the fact that he discussed the question of restoration but I was talking about the main question of the production of iron ore, the extraction of iron ore, because that is the matter which essentially affects the economics of this Measure. At this point I wish to bring in a matter which was referred to a day or so ago in this House when, in a supplementary question to the Minister of Fuel and Power, I asked why there was this immense disparity between the extractive cost of iron ore and that of opencast coal. The Parliamentary Secretary, as usual, jumped in head first and came out with the answer that of course there is a difference owing to the greater depth of opencast coal measures and the cost of restoration. I know that the Parliamentary Secretary has often referred to me as unpatriotic, but I can assure him that I am not as simple as he thinks. I know something about those industries and on a suitable occasion we shall debate it in this House.
  What I wish to mention on this occasion—and at this point I get back to the hon. and learned Member for Kettering—is that in the constituency of the hon. and learned Member there happen to be iron ore mines which are of precisely the same depth, both in shallowness and in depth, as the shallowest and deepest type
  1588
  of opencast coalmining. Why I mention these matters is that here, for the first time, we have an exact yardstick by which we can evaluate whether or not we are likely to get cheaper costs or otherwise through this Measure. What I wish to hear, if possible, from the Minister is whether it is seriously suggested that, as a result of this Measure, we shall get cheaper iron ore than at present? Because if opencast mining, which is a Government run and Government initiated method of dealing with very much the same type of material under very similar conditions, is any guide to this, the country will awaken to a rude shock. The difference is something which I do not think hon. Members on either side of the House appreciate.
  As one indication I will give a figure which I think will surprise hon. Members. At mid-day today I was at a meeting in Chesterfield at which we discussed this subject. We were discussing the year's results of an iron ore field of a fairly shallow nature, but no shallower than a good many opencast mining units. The figure we were discussing not only referred to the total cost of extracting; it included overheads, depreciation and the like, and the complete restoration of the land. The figure was much smaller than the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power might think.
  At a selling price of no more than 5s. a ton, a handsome profit was being made. The similar figure for opencast coal is much nearer 23s. In some of the deep mines the figure is getting very much nearer 50s. The comparable figure for iron ore is about 7s. Will this fill anybody approaching this problem with any degree of confidence that when the Government take over we shall have a lowering of costs? The answer we always get is, "That is all very well. If you can do it, we can do it." That is an answer we have been given too often in many other cases. We were told that about coal mining—"If you can hold a level, we can hold it." The fact is that the level has not been held. We have been told that once too often.
  That is only one approach to this problem. I am dealing with the primary essentials in the production of steel—there are only two, coal and iron ore—which we extract in this country. We have seen what happened to the price of

  1589
  coal, and every steel worker and blast furnace worker knows what effect that has had on the economy of the industry. Iron ore production is one of our most efficient industries. Our costs of production are comparable with anything on the Continent, in Sweden or in North America. Yet in approaching this problem, not a word has been said by the Government to the effect that they intend to improve on this or indeed that they hope to hold the price at the present level. Not a word has been said about being able to hold on or improve upon the existing price of steel, pig iron or any of the processed results. Until this material case is made out, I cannot see that all these generalisations will get us anywhere. I do not know whether the Minister or hon. Members opposite have read Lord Brand's article in the current issue of "Lloyd's Bank Magazine." That appears to me to answer all the generalities.
  We are forced back on to the practical and material issues. As a result of this Bill do we reasonably expect cheaper and more abundant steel? Nothing that I heard during the Report stage and nothing that I have read of the proceedings in Standing Committee gives me the slightest feeling that that will happen. There must be hon. Members in all parts of the House who have the same material approach to the problem. If there are, I cannot for the life of me see that they are justified in saying that they conscientiously support this Measure. The Minister has frequently referred to flexibility. I do not believe that one can be a successful industrialist unless one is reasonably flexible in one's approach. I hope that my attitude of mind is sufficiently flexible to enable me to be swayed by argument. But no argument has been advanced from the physical or the industrial aspect of this problem to convince me or anybody else that we can genuinely look forward to a greater abundance of steel and the processed articles, of pig iron and the blast furnace products at a cheaper rate than at present. Until that case is proved, we are not justified in giving our support to this Measure.
  8.15 p.m.
  Mr. Awbery: I have listened carefully to the arguments advanced by the Opposition in this
  1590
  Debate. At the end of the Debate a vote will be taken and we shall end a chapter in the history of the steel industry. In the whole of the speeches I have heard today, I have been struck more by what has been left out than by what has been included. Nearly every speaker for the Opposition has dealt with the question of Stock Exchange compensation and dividends. Not a word has been said by hon. Gentlemen opposite about the human element in the steel industry. Hon. Members on both sides of the House will agree that of the men who have made this industry successful none have contributed more than the workers, and they are completely left out of the Bill. In fact, as I see the position, we leave out any reference to a man who is paid compensation under the old Workmen's Compensation Act for an injury sustained at his work. He will continue to draw his compensation from a soulless insurance society, while the shareholders receive their dividends. That matter should be dealt with by the Minister. There is a human element which we have totally neglected.
  I wish to discuss some of the points mentioned by the hon. Member for East Middlesbrough (Mr. A. Edwards). He spoke about the five per cent. which the Government will pay almost perpetually to the shareholder. I agree with him. We are paying too much as compensation to the owners of this industry. Hon. Members have said that this is a bright spot, that we are producing 14 million tons and that everything is going along swimmingly. It is at this time that we are to assess what the compensation shall be. Why should not we take a period of 20 years? Over the last 20 years—especially in the thirties—between 20 and 25 per cent. of the men in the industry were unemployed. The value of the shares depreciated. A large number of the concerns paid no dividend at all for a number of years. Why do we say that we will assess the compensation at what is a flourishing and bright spot in the history of the industry?
  Hon. Members have created quite a stir in this House on the question of compensation. I do not blame the Conservative Party for creating a stir. We are changing a system —gradually it is true. We are changing from the capitalist system of

  1591
  production to a Socialist system of production. If the Tory Party do not raise objection in this House to a change of this kind, then who will? The capitalist system has always been kind to the capitalist class represented by the Tory Party. Surely, they are the people who would try to defend the position. They would not be worthy of the name of Conservative if they were not prepared to conserve the privileges which they have enjoyed for many years. We are here as a Socialist Party not to conserve the privileges of the few, but to bring about a change. The hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale (Mr. Erroll) said that when this Bill was passed we were going to have a hand in every pie, but it is going to be everybody's pie and belong to the nation, and, surely, we ought to have a say in something that belongs to us.
  I would remind the House and the nation that in passing this Bill we are not handing over the steel industry to the Labour Party. We are not even handing it over to the workers in the steel industry. We are paying the price demanded by the Stock Exchange in order to make it the property of the nation and of the people of this country. That is why we came to this House. Who is going to determine the matter? Hon. Members have said that it will be determined at the next General Election. I have no fear at all of the result of the next General Election, but we can see that hon. Members opposite are not satisfied in their own minds that it is going to be settled at the next Election. I would like to quote from their own book on the subject "About the Nationalisation of Steel," on page 8 of which it is stated that this is no academic question—
  "Whether or not these trades are to be nationalised will be finally decided neither by the present Socialist Government, nor by this House of Commons, nor most certainly by the House of Lords, but by each one of us individually as a voter at the next General election."
  So they tell us quite definitely that this issue is to be determined, not by a vote of this House, nor by another place, but at the next General Election. Then, on page 18 of the same book, they print questions for discussion, and this is one of the questions, indicating that it is one
  1592
  of the many things about which they are not yet clear. This is the question:
  "Do you think that the Steel Bill should be repealed by the Conservative Party after the next General Election whether or not transfer to public ownership has already taken place?
  They have not yet come to a decision in their own minds whether we shall have the Bill through before the next Election or after it.
  I started my speech by saying that we are writing a chapter in the history of the steel industry of this country which will be completed, so far as we are concerned, at ten o'clock this evening. I want hon. Members to look back upon the chapter that has been written and see whether it is a satisfactory chapter as far, as the steel industry is concerned. Of course, there is a fine relationship between the workers and the employers in the industry, and we were told by one hon. Member that, because of these splendid relationships, there should be no nationalisation and that we should proceed with nationalisation only in industries where there is not such a good relationship between employers and employed. But who has built up these relationships? Has it been done by the Tory Party? If we get hold of their leaflets, we find that they tell us how they recognised the trade unions, gave them proper recognition and passed Bills through this House. Of course, they did. They passed Bills to recognise the trade unions after years of opposition and when it was too dangerous to persist any longer in refusing the reform that was required.
  What about production? Shall we look at it from the employers' point of view? If we do, shall we see a spectacular advance in the industry? In 1900, the world production of steel was 27½ million tons; in 1929, it was 118.3 million tons. In this country, production jumped from 5 million tons in 1900 to 9.64 million tons in 1929. Thus, we did not double our output between 1900 and 1929; that is the progress we have made. America, in 1900, produced 10½ million tons; in 1929, she produced 56 million tons, a jump of more than five times her production in 29 years, whereas the industry in this country did not double its output. So much for production in the industry.
  In the past, the steel industry has often come to this House for assistance. It came here for a protective tariff because

  1593
  it was in a bad way. The industry came to this House because its leaders wanted rationalisation. But what did that mean? To them, the rationalisation of the steel industry meant disregarding the whole of the social obligations to large communities when they transferred their works from place to place. Rationalisation built up unemployment. If anybody has paid into the steel industry, it has been the worker by his sweat and toil and unemployment.
  When we are discussing, as we have been this evening, the question of compensation, we must have regard to the fact that the value of this industry is largely the unpaid wages of millions of men over the last 20 or 30 years. Between the wars, we had increasing unemployment in this industry; in fact, from 1919 until 1938 or 1939, there was one continuous slump. The hon. Member for East Middlesbrough said that the employers suffered and I agree with him that they did, but the workers suffered very, very considerably. What comparison is there between the employer, with his money invested in the industry, not picking up a dividend this year, and the man who is compelled to stand at the street corner because he cannot get employment? There is no comparison at all.
  Mr. A. Edwards: The point is that, under this Bill, the employer is going to make no sacrifice at all.
  Mr. Awbery: I want to see who is getting the compensation. It was not the share certificate which stood before the fiery furnace, getting its face distorted with the heat; it was a human being, flesh and blood, who is now not being considered at all in this Bill. It was not a share certificate that looked into the white hot furnace, but a human being, nearly losing his sight in the process; and I feel that these men are being left out and that this is one of the weaknesses of the Bill. Consideration is given, as always in the past, to dividends, but we have got to change all this. I hope the time will come when a re-assessment of human values will take place and we shall regard the human as much as we do the material and the financial side of the business. The sufferings of those pitiless years of tragedy, not only in the steel industry, are indelibily impressed upon the minds of the workers, who will never forget them.
  1594
  If the Conservative Party want to win an election, I can tell them how to do it. They will win an election when they can get the workers of this country to forget their past. The Tory Party cannot wash away the stains of those unforgetably tragic years between the wars. Those stains cannot be washed from their hands like stains of paint or grease. The Conservative Party are issuing pamphlets in order to convert the workers. The pamphlets say what they have done for us. They had been trying to prevent us from making progress, but in spite of all their wealth and all that they have done we have made progress. We have succeeded in forcing the employers to recognise us as a trade union. Then they come to us and say, "You must give us the virtue of winning for the trade unions the rights of recognition in this great democratic country." It was not the Conservative Party nor the Liberal Party that gave the trade union movement recognition. The trade union movement fought every inch of its way in the steel industry until it was recognised. As the result of that recognition, we have a remarkable industry with harmony and a fine joint committee. What we have done has been done, not by the help of the Conservative Party, but by the unselfish and loyal work of the trade unions in the steel industry and the other industries of this country.
  8.32 p.m.
  Mr. Osbert Peake: It is not, I think, surprising that at this stage of the proceedings there are not many new arguments which can be advanced upon the general principles of the Bill. There are, of course, many Clauses upon which neither in Committee nor on Report have we had any discussion. There are points upon which, therefore, both the House and the country are still in the dark. I think, however, that upon the main issue of principle raised by the Bill there is not very much new that can be said.
  When the Bill came before the House for Second Reading, I had at that time very little special knowledge of this industry. I have learned a good deal during the Committee and Report stages. Having heard the Lord President of the Council on more than one occasion in recent years state that the nationalisers must prove their case and that the onus

  1595
  of proof lies upon those who demand a change, I felt that in the course of the Debates on this Bill I should hear a long catalogue of the defects of the industry and its shortcomings, and practical proposals by the Government, embodied in the Bill, for remedying these defects and making good the shortcomings.
  Although I have attended throughout all our long Debates upon this Measure, we have had no catalogue of defects, and no list of shortcomings in the industry as it exists today. It is naturally difficult to answer a case which has not been made. There have been various vague phrases used about the need for an overall plan, as if there had not been an overall plan for this industry for at least 17 years; and there have also been vague phrases used about the need for reorganisation, apparently oblivious of the fact that the Government approved completely the reorganisation plan put forward by the industry at the end of 1945.
  The result is that after some six months of participating in, and listening to, Debates and speeches upon the iron and steel industry I still remain unenlightened as to what are the defects in the industry which this nationalisation Measure is designed to remedy. There is no suggestion in any part of the Bill that any measure can be taken by anybody for increasing the technical efficiency of the industry. Not having heard of any defects in the industry's structure, I did at least expect to hear from the Parliamentary Secretary that there was at any rate an insistent demand from the workers in the industry for the nationalisation of their industry.
  I expected that we should hear the argument, put forward with some force in the case of the coal industry, that the workers demanded nationalisation and would not give of their best until the industry was nationalised. That argument is what I always think of in my own mind as the Pears' soap advertisement argument. Those of us who were young 30 or 40 years ago used to see upon every railway station in the country a picture of a naked and chubby baby holding out his hand attempting to seize a piece of Pears' soap, with underneath the caption, "He won't be happy till he gets it." It is a bit out of date now because we cannot get it anyway. The strongest argument put forward for the
  1596
  nationalisation of the coal industry was that the miner would not be happy until he got it.
  The Parliamentary Secretary occasionally assures us that the workers in the iron and steel industry would like nationalisation, but the highest he put it in his speech today was when he spoke of "the request" of the men in the industry for public ownership and control. Well, the Parliamentary Secretary is a Yorkshireman and Yorkshiremen do not speak of a request when they really mean a demand. Believe me, this is not the language in which Mr. Smillie and Mr. Cook used to speak when they demanded the nationalisation of the coal industry.
  Mr. John Hynd: Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the language used by the Yorkshire steel workers in demanding nationalisation of the steel industry would not be permitted in the House if used by a Minister?
  Mr. Peake: All I can say is that in my opinion the Parliamentary Secretary would not have spoken of "the request" of the men for public ownership if there were a genuine burning demand on the part of the workers to have their industry nationalised.
  The Parliamentary Secretary went on to say, in his speech this afternoon, that this Bill will secure the continuance of the good relationships in the industry between the management and the men. I am very glad to hear that there have been good relationships in this industry between the management and the men, and it certainly seems that both parties to the industry are quite happy with the present set-up, but I cannot see anything in the Bill especially designed to ensure the continuance of those good relations which have been built up in the past.
  There is no evidence whatever, either in the speeches made by the leaders of the trade unions in the country, or in the speeches made by those who speak for the iron and steel workers, of any sense of bitterness or frustration similar to that which existed in the coal industry with regard to which we were so constantly assured that nationalisation would resolve—it would resolve the sense of bitterness and do away with the sense of frustration; it would have a most wonderful effect on production and output. [An HON. MEMBER: "So it has."] We

  1597
  have had some discussion about output today, and I really did think everyone in the House had by now appreciated that the output per man per annum in 1938 in the coal industry was 302 tons whereas today it is about 270, or in other words a 10 per cent. loss of output per man employed as compared with 1938.
  I am left therefore, at the concluding stage of this Bill, with no reason at all for its introduction. There are no enthusiastic advocates of this Bill and no crusading zeal in favour of it on the part of Members opposite; in fact, there are only a few apologists for it. The case of those who support the Government in this matter is that it is quite an innocuous Measure, which will do no harm and will only mean that the shares will be transferred from the present holders to the Iron and Steel Corporation. That is the case as put by the most enthusiastic supporters of the Bill. The Parliamentary Secretary praised the Bill by calling it a workmanlike Measure which can be implemented in all its aspects, whatever he means by that phrase. I referred to him just now as being a Yorkshireman, and Yorkshiremen as a rule express themselves rather more clearly and definitely than that.
  The only real argument upon which supporters of the Bill are forced back is the one developed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer during the Second Reading, and that is that the iron and steel industry is a great citadel of power and that the "steel barons" enjoy too much influence. What utter nonsense that is. Those in control of the iron and steel industry today are not only responsible to the Government who have a large share in the control of the industry, but they are responsible to the consumers who can change their source of supply if they are not satisfied with what they are getting. They are responsible also to the trade unions with whom they apparently enjoy the most excellent relations. And what is the remedy suggested for having too much power in too few hands? The remedy is to put all the power into the hands of half a dozen men who are to be members of the board of the Iron and Steel Corporation.
  At this late time I can only mention a few of what seem to me to be the major defects of the Bill. We have never been told what the Corporation will do; we
  1598
  know it will own the shares in the 100 companies named in the Third Schedule, but no one knows how much the Corporation will do beyond that and to what extent it will interfere in the day to day management of these companies. What we have been told about the members of the Iron and Steel Board, however, is first that they are to be full-time, and second that they are to be what is called non-functional. They are to be Ministers without Portfolio.
  In my opinion, as one who has had some little practical experience of business, directors should be either whole-time and functional or part-time and non-functional. I cannot believe that seven or eight amateurs, who are non-functional and who have no executive or administrative jobs to do themselves, will put in full-time work as members of the Board of this Corporation. Apparently, they are to have a continuous Board meeting, which will go on for eight hours every day for five days every week. [An HON. MEMBER: "And no Guillotine."] Yes, without a Guillotine. I would ask the Minister to try to make clear what he thinks seven or eight Ministers without portfolio—Paymasters-General or Chancellors of the Duchy of Lancaster—will do to fill in their time and earn their salaries as non-functional full-time members of the Board.
  Among the other great defects of the Bill are the licensing Clauses, which appear in Part III. Hitherto it has been considered the function of Parliament to devise measures to protect the weak against the strong. Here we have an elaborate arrangement to protect the great new monster, the Iron and Steel Corporation, from the competition of the small men who are engaged in the smallest units in the industry. Then there is the completely ineffective Clause which the right hon. Gentleman produced on Report to try and prevent the Corporation from showing undue preference or exercising undue discrimination. That Clause would be all right if it affected the companies which will be actually carrying on the iron and steel business, but as the Minister has drawn it it will be quite impossible for the dissatisfied customer who has been treated unfairly by one of the controlled companies named in the Schedule to bring proceedings of any kind against the Corporation, which will

  1599
  not have been carrying on actual trading activities.
  Lastly, we come to the grievance which has been mentioned before, and which we debated with some warmth last Tuesday —the terms of compensation. I hope that the Minister, who has not yet addressed himself to this matter of the fairness of the terms of compensation, but who has left this unenviable task to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, will himself have a go at it tonight. I am sure we should all appreciate hearing from him in what way the terms of compensation proposed by the Bill make proper allowance for the results of all capital expenditure undertaken by the industry after 26th May, 1946.
  This Bill means in my opinion completely centralised control of the whole industry. The Minister has told us that all finance and investments will be managed centrally by the Corporation. It will have an immense concentration of power, and that power can and will be exercised over every manager and man in its employment. It is not long ago since I had a letter from a constituent of mine who had been sacked by the National Coal Board. He applied for work at four or five neighbouring collieries as he would have done in the bad old days. At each of those pits he was refused employment, and it was not until after he had written to me that he was able to obtain permission from the Ministry of Labour to take employment outside the coalmining industry. The apparent policy of the National Coal Board in regard to that man was to punish him by keeping him in perpetual idleness. Under this Bill the iron and steel workers will be just as much threatened with that sort of thing as are the colliery workers and miners of today.
  The Corporation will have unlimited power to injure and destroy what has taken generations to build up. There will in any event at the outset for the next two or three years be a period of uncertainty and stagnation and that will go on through a critical period for our national recovery. The best brains in the industry for the next two or three years will be, most likely, engaged with the appallingly difficult problem arising from what the Minister calls "hiving off." This operation involves most complicated
  1600
  calculations in regard to questions of tax liability and similar matters. The best brains of the industry will have to be given to these complicated questions so as to build up new organisations and try to save something from the wreck of nationalisation.
  We have had no discussion in Committee or on Report upon the Clause which gives the Minister power to give directions of a general character to the Corporation. I hope the Minister in his reply tonight will give us some indication of how he proposes that that power should be exercised, because obviously between the Minister and the Corporation there will be divided complete and absolute power, and it would be of some interest to the House to know how much responsibility will rest with the Minister and how much will be left with the Corporation. To what extent, if any, will Members of this House be free to challenge and question the Minister upon the directions which he may issue from time to time to the Corporation?
  One of the major objections to the Bill is that by it the Government becomes an active participant in the industrial field upon a gigantic scale. Many hon. Members have spoken of conflicts that have risen in the past and are bound to be repeated in the future between considerations of pure economics on the one hand and social considerations on the other. These arise particularly in the iron and steel industry with regard to the location of plant and the closing down of old-fashioned or inefficient plant. I believe, now that the Government are to become the owners of the iron and steel industry, that for the future it will not be possible for the Government to hold the balance fairly as an impartial arbitrator between these conflicting claims. I believe that, under political pressure, these questions will always be decided in the future against the interests of efficiency and economy and in favour of what I call the social and amenity considerations. For the future the Government will play at centre forward and act as referee at one and the same time.
  Britain's industrial supremacy in the past has been largely built on the iron and steel industry. Our survival in the future must depend upon it. This industry has met the nation's needs both in war and peace. If this country had not

  1601
  rejected Lord Baldwin's appeal in 1923 for a tariff, the industry would not have suffered so severely in the years of the great depression and in the bad old days of Labour misrule from 1929 to 1931. Since the imposition of a tariff in 1932, this industry has grown year by year in efficiency and in output. To force this Measure through today is reckless and wanton gambling, for political ends, with the livelihood and the survival of our people.
  8.57 p.m.
  The Minister of Supply (Mr. G. R. Strauss): I think the House will agree that this Debate on the Third Reading of the Bill has been characterised, as were most of the Debates in Committee and on Report, by good humour, although there have today been effective and hard-hitting speeches. I was particularly interested, as I think the House was as a whole, by contributions made by hon. Members on the Government benches with a long personal experience of the iron and steel industries and with memories going back to those bad days when there was depression and very considerable unemployment.
  The one interesting feature of the Debate is that there has been very little, if any, repetition of the argument that was advanced earlier—it was half argument and half threat—that if the Government proceeded with this Measure there would be an immediate and serious effect on the production of iron and steel. That argument was put forward when the Government first proposed, in May, 1946, and so informed the House, that this industry was to be nationalised. Indeed, it was urged by no less a person than the right hon. Member for the City of London (Sir A. Duncan) whose 'absence today I am sure we all deplore. He said very definitely that there would inevitably be immediate dislocation of the iron and steel industry and he suggested that it would be very serious. The House and the country should realise that that dislocation did not happen, that managements and men in the iron and steel industry continued to produce iron and steel at increasing rates, and that those who believed that there would be any adverse reaction as a result of the Government's pronouncement were libelling the people in the iron and steel industry.
  1602
  It is a fact that since that day in May, 1946, when that announcement was made, production has gone up from an annual rate of just over 13 million tons per annum to over 15 million tons in 1948 and nearly 16 million tons in 1949. I am taking the rate of production calculated on an annual basis, in the April of each year. That disposes of those gloomy prophecies. I noticed that this argument was not advanced today and I hope it is recognised generally—I hope by the Opposition, but I am doubtful—that one of the incidental virtues of the Bill we are today discussing is that it proposes a scheme of nationalisation without dislocation of the industry.
  I propose to deal with various points put forward in the Debate today. I shall start with some observations on one or two points made by the right hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Lyttelton) and the right hon. Member for North Leeds (Mr. Peake). One argument used by the right hon. Member for Aldershot was that the nationalisation of this industry would have serious and adverse implications and results in that the export of steel and the sale of steel abroad to various countries would be considered as a political counter in the export trade, and that that would be bad. I do not believe that that will necessarily be so in the future when there is ample steel, but it is certainly true today when steel is exported almost invariably as a result of some bilateral trade agreement with one country or another, apart from the steel which goes to the Colonies and the Commonwealths. Steel is a political counter, and a very valuable political counter, in helping our international trade, and I do not think that this fact is bringing any adverse results. Indeed, at the moment it is bringing some very favourable ones.
  I was asked by the right hon. Member for North Leeds to repeat the arguments in favour of the nationalisation of this industry. I do not think it would be appropriate to do so on this occasion. Hon. Gentlemen opposite were not, of course, convinced by the arguments advanced at great length by the Lord President, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself during the Second Reading Debate and I do not think it part of my duty today—I do not want to delay the House—to repeat those selfsame arguments. I do not know whether

  1603
  the right hon. Member for North Leeds was here during that Second Reading Debate, but if he was he has forgotten all about it. He has accused me of not saying during that important Debate a number of things which I did say at great length. He complained that I said nothing about the duties of the Corporation and the sort of work we would expect them to do when they were appointed. I set that out at great length and I gave a long list of the very difficult work which the Corporation would have to undertake and which would I am sure occupy a number of very able men for a very long time.
  Mr. Peake: As the right hon. Gentleman has redrafted the Clause since Second Reading, on the Report stage, surely his arguments no longer stand now?
  Mr. Strauss: The duties of the Corporation and the work they will do remain exactly the same. The redrafting of the Clause, in order to meet some observations and criticisms of the Opposition and outside bodies—incorporating words about the discrimination between one buyer and another—does not in the slightest affect the planning work which the Corporation will undertake.
  The right hon. Gentleman went on to complain that I had not said anything about compensation but had left it to my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary; but I would refer him to columns 69–72 of HANSARD during the Second Reading Debate when I spoke at great length. I hoped that I had convinced the right hon. Gentleman, though apparently I had not, of the fairness of our compensation terms. Again I do not think it would be appropriate on this occasion—I am perfectly prepared to do so shortly if requested—to repeat the quite conclusive arguments which have been advanced over and over again by my right hon. and hon. Friends showing that the share value is the fair, free market value at which individual holders of those shares should be compensated when those shares are taken away from them.
  Moreover the price of those shares includes a number of factors—present dividend policy, past record of the company and the future prospects of the
  1604
  company. In the future prospects of the company concerned is incorporated any profit likely to come to it as a result of capital development in that company after the date at which the pledge to nationalise the industry was given.
  Mr. Dodds-Parker: Why not put it to arbitration?
  Mr. Strauss: The other question which the right hon. Gentleman asked was, what directions of a general character can the Minister give to the Corporation? I hope that the Minister, whoever he may be, will not be forced to give any directions to the Corporation, but that the Corporation will, in consultation with the Minister, carry out broadly the requirements of the Government in the interests of the public as conceived by the Government of the day. However, if he asks what sort of directions, I will give him one example. It may well be that the Government will tell the Corporation that the total capacity of the industry in a number of years should be so much. That is a perfectly legitimate direction for the Government to give the Corporation; and it may well be that the Corporation will want the views and directions of the Government on a matter of major importance of that kind.
  Mr. William Shepherd: What is this figure to be?
  Mr. Strauss: When I am asked whether directions given by the Minister to the Corporation can be questioned and challenged in the House, my answer is definitely yes. Not only can the Minister be challenged on the directions he gives, but he could be questioned on directions which he does not give and which any hon. Member thinks he ought to give and which he. is empowered to give by the terms of the Bill. So we are quite clear on that point.
  I want to say a few words about the changes in the Bill which have been brought about while it has passed through its various stages in this House. I acknowledge willingly the value of many of the suggestions put forward by the Opposition during the Committee stage and many of those suggestions have been incorporated in the Bill. Apart from the T.U.C., I am also grateful to the Federation of British Industries, the National Union of Manufacturers and

  1605
  the Association of British Chambers of Commerce for discussing with me a variety of matters directly affecting consumers' interests, particularly the constitution and duties of the Consumers' Council. I said during the Report stage that those bodies were now wholly satisfied with the redraft of the important Clause 3. I admit that it would have been more accurate if I had said that they were largely satisfied, because wholly satisfied they are not. However, I have gone a long way to meeting their views and I hope that they are broadly satisfied with a number of changes which I have made.
  The help I was given by those representatives of industry, hostile as they are to the principles of the Bill, makes me all the more sorry that the people most directly concerned and most knowledgeable about this industry—I mean the leaders of the industry itself and the Federation—have not, in spite of the invitation I extended to them during my Second Reading speech, put any suggestions before me for improving a single detail of the Bill. There are only two possible explanations of this. The first is that die Bill is so good that they could not think of any improvement; that would be flattering, but unlikely. The second is that as a result of the political pressure of some of its members the Federation has told all the leaders of the industry that they should not submit any advice to me on how the industry, when nationalised, can best operate.
  Mr. Selwyn Lloyd: Has the right hon. Gentleman at any time given any indication of what would be the position of the Federation under nationalisation?
  Mr. Strauss: I invited the Federation and the leaders of the industry to put any point to me, but they have not done so. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] The fact that they have not put any points before me is regrettable, and however hostile—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."]—those people may be to the principles of nationalisation, I am sure that the House as a whole and the country would strongly condemn any politically-inspired non-co-operation that is likely to damage the interests of this great industry and of the nation. I am, however, certain that the vast majority of all those in the industry, whatever their level or job,
  1606
  whether in the steel works, the Federation, one of its commercial offshoots, or in its very fine Research Association will be prepared, when this Measure finally receives the Royal Assent, to contribute towards the prosperity of this great national industry, at least as wholeheartedly as they have done in the past. I have no doubt that the Corporation, when appointed, will desire to continue the admirable work of these bodies, and that these bodies will continue to render the industry invaluable service.
  I want to say a word on the controversial matter of the Guillotine. The right hon. Gentleman the Member for Aldershot said that the Bill would pass to another place undiscussed. During the Committee stage the right hon. Gentleman himself made 90 speeches; the right hon. Gentleman the Member for North Leeds made 74—
  Mr. Peake: Hear, hear.
  Mr. Strauss: —the right hon. Member for Bromley (Mr. H. Macmillan) made 61 and the hon. and learned Member for Daventry (Mr. Manningham-Buller), 44.
  Mr. Peake: What was the Minister's score?
  Mr. Strauss: Just about the same as that of the right hon. Member for Aldershot. That is well and good, but in view of those many hundreds of speeches made by hon. Gentlemen opposite I cannot understand how they can allege that the Bill has passed from this House undiscussed. What were they doing when they were making those speeches?
  Mr. Lyttelton: Would the right hon. Gentleman add, for the statistical information of the House, how many Clauses were undiscussed in the Committee?
  Mr. Strauss: I am just coming to that. It was alleged, and has been alleged again today, that the Government prevented adequate discussion of the Bill. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] I deny that allegation emphatically. As the House is aware, the Government moved a time-table Resolution for this Bill because the Opposition were unwilling to accept, or even to discuss a voluntary time-table arrangement.
  Mr. Lyttelton: I really must interrupt the right hon. Gentleman if he makes interjections of this kind. What we

  1607
  refused was that the Guillotine should fall four times on the last day and about 16 times in the Debates; and I suggest that all this is out of Order.
  The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison) rose—
  Commander Galbraith: On a point of Order, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, I understood we were dealing—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speak up."] —I understood we were dealing with the Third Reading of the Bill. Would you advise us what the intervention of the Lord President of the Council has to do with it and what the statistics the Minister has given have to do with the Third Reading?
  Mr. Deputy-Speaker (Mr. Bowles): Mr. Speaker himself allowed the right hon. Member for Aldershot to be interrupted by the hon. Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) and—
  Mr. Stokes: We cannot hear.
  Mr. Deputy-Speaker: If hon. Members kept quiet they would be able to hear—[HON. MEMBERS: "Send him out"] Order. In view of the breadth of discussion which had been allowed before I occupied the Chair I thought it would be wrong on my part when I occupied the Chair suddenly to narrow it
  Mr. Lyttelton: On a point of Order. Is it not out of Order to continue for more than a minute on these matters of the Guillotine? Is not the Third Reading confined to discussions of the Bill?
  Mr. Deputy-Speaker: The matter is either out of Order instantly or can be discussed as long as the Minister wants and it does not make any difference to the value or relevance of the point of Order.
  Mr. Morrison: I want only to say in support of what my right hon. Friend has said that we met the Opposition leaders with a view to their making a voluntary arrangement if they wished and they flatly refused to have any discussion.
  Mr. Strauss: I only want to say a few words about this—[Interruption.] I am entitled, if hon. Members opposite will permit me, to answer some remarks made by many Members of the Opposition during the day on this matter. At the same
  1608
  time as they were refusing to discuss a voluntary time-table arrangement, they were declaring that they would use every Parliamentary device open to them to prevent the passage of this Bill through Parliament. In those circumstances, it was surely right—
  Mr. Boyd-Carpenter: Who said that?
  Mr. Strauss: —for the Government to take the necessary, indeed the only, steps open to them—
  Mr. Boyd-Carpenter: Who said that?
  Mr. Strauss: The Conservative Party Opposition. It was right for the Government to take the only measures open to them to ensure that this Measure on which, in the opinion of the Government, the prosperity of this country largely depends, shall not be indefinitely held up by a Parliamentary minority and, secondly, that our Parliamentary institution should not again be discredited by happenings similar to those which characterised the passage of the Gas Bill.
  Commander Galbraith Commander Galbraith rose—
  Mr. Deputy-Speaker: Does the hon. and gallant Member rise on a point of Order?
  Commander Galbraith: Yes. Sir. Will you give us a definite Ruling, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, on what we are entitled to discuss and what we are not entitled to discuss on the Third Reading?
  Mr. Deputy-Speaker: I think that if the hon. and eallant Member had been here in the last hour he would have heard many of his hon. Friends refer to the Coal Industry (Nationalisation) Bill and other nationalisation Measures. Mr. Strauss.
  Commander Galbraith: I have been here for the last hour and have heard what was said, but the right hon. Gentleman is going far beyond that.
  Mr. Strauss: I only want to say that, on any reckoning and any comparison with any previous nationalisation Measure—[Interruption.] I was saying that on any reckoning, with 36 meetings in Committee and four sittings on Report stage, ample time was in fact given for an adequate discussion of the Bill. That was on condition, of course, that there

  1609
  was a genuine intention all round that the time should be fully used, and not frittered away in a series of long speeches on every detail in the Bill and how that detail could be amended.
  Mr. Lyttelton: Will the right hon. Gentleman say how many times the Closure was moved by the Government? Is there anything at all in this argument? Nothing whatever.
  Mr. Strauss: I suggest to the House that when there is a Guillotine Motion it would be wholly wrong for the Government to move the Closure during the meetings of the Committee. I do not know, but I very much doubt whether the Chairman would have accepted such a Motion. As the House is aware, that is exactly what did happen in Committee. There were very long and interminable discussions on details and on points—
  Commander Galbraith: On a point of Order. I understood that the House had assembled to hear about the Third Reading of the Bill. The Minister has spent some ten minutes telling us what happened in regard to the Guillotine. Is it in Order for the Minister to continue to talk about the Guillotine and what happened in Committee and not to refer to the Bill?
  Mr. Speaker: The Minister is in Order to refer to what was—
  Mr. Stokes Mr. Stokes rose—
  Mr. Speaker: Order. If I am on my feet and if I have been asked a point of Order, surely the Speaker is to he allowed to reply. My answer is that I understood that the Minister was replying to a great many things which were said about the Guillotine in the earlier part of the Debate when I happened to be in the Chair. It is for him to decide whether he curtails his speech or not, but it is perfectly in Order for him to reply to the allegations made at the beginning of the Debate.
  Mr. Stokes: On a point of Order. As I could not get my explanation in, Sir, and with great respect to you, we have now had about five points of Order which were entirely inaudible at this end of the House despite protest. I ask you.
  1610
  Sir, to ask hon. Members on the Opposition benches to make their points of Order clear to this end of the House.
  Mr. Strauss: I would have finished with this subject in about three or four minutes, but it has been prolonged by points of Order which have been raised. The House will remember that on Report stage agreed Amendments, which had been agreed by the Opposition, were discussed for hours after the agreement had been declared. Finally, my answer to the charge that some sections of this Bill have not been adequately discussed in Committee and on Report is the undeniable and regrettable fact that it is wholly and solely due to the tactics pursued by the Conservative Party—[Interruption.] They could have had a proper examination of the Bill if that had been their desire, but they preferred instead to manufacture political grievances which they hoped to exploit.
  Mr. Ivor Thomas: And the Lord President goes to Paris and talks about Parliamentary democracy. [Interruption.]
  Earl Winterton: On a point of Order. While the hon. Member below the Gangway was making an interruption, an hon. Gentleman called out "Judas" and I should like to ask whether the term "Judas" is in Order—[Interruption.]
  Mr. Speaker: I must confess that I did not hear the word "Judas," and I do not know who was referred to.
  Earl Winterton: I distinctly heard the hon. Member for Sparkbrook (Mr. Shurmer) use the word "Judas," I ask whether he should not be called upon to withdraw this very offensive observation.
  Mr. Speaker: I did not hear it. It did not come to the ear of the Chair. There is nothing I can do.
  Mr. Strauss: I think the trouble with the right hon. Gentleman is that he has such a low irritation point.
  Earl Winterton: Would the right hon. Gentleman like to be called Judas?
  Brigadier Thorp: The Minister said about ten minutes ago that he would answer the question about how many Clauses were omitted during the discussions in Standing Committee. Is it in Order to ask him to make that statement now?
  Mr. Strauss: I never said anything of the sort, of course. One of the right hon. Gentlemen opposite gave that figure and the hon. and gallant Gentleman can ask him. It is all in the record.
  We believe that under this Bill the industry will have every opportunity to expand. Its management and technicians and all those within it bearing any responsibility will, under the Bill as we have proposed and drafted it, have ample opportunity for initiative and enterprise; indeed, I believe more than ever before, because they will no longer be hampered by lack of fresh capital, as they often have been in the past, or by the sectional and conflicting interests of private owners.
  Because of all that has been said, by implication, to the contrary, even during the Debate today, by many hon. Members on the other side of the House, I want to make it clear once more that the making of iron and steel in its many forms will not, under this Bill, be the responsibility of any Government Department. It will be the responsibility of the managements of the existing companies which will retain their identities, their good will and such loyalties as they have been able to build up. The Corporation's function will he that of a holding company responsible in their broad policy to Parliament through, of course, the Minister of Supply. They will be charged with the general duty of ensuring that the development of the industry and the price, quality and type of their products conform to the overall economic needs of the nation. As I said in the Second Reading Debate, this set-up combines all that is best in public ownership and private enterprise.
  But this Bill, far reaching and beneficial as its effects will eventually be on the iron and steel industry itself, should not be considered in isolation. It is an integral part of the Government's general strategy for establishing a prosperous national economy. The power over our industrial life which previously resided, with chaotic and often disastrous consequences, in the hands of the private owners of the nation's mines, transport and steel, will reside there no longer. Henceforth, this power will provide a mighty weapon for maintaining full employment and raising the standard of life of our people.
  9.29 p.m.
  Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite: Before the Guillotine finally falls, might I submit to the House and the country that, for the first time in our Parliamentary history, the Guillotine has been imposed not because of the exigencies of the Parliamentary programme, but to stifle discussion so that the Leader of the House can take his people away for a fortnight at Whitsuntide to enjoy the breezes and bacon at Blackpool?
  It being Half-past Nine o'Clock Mr. SPEAKER proceeded, pursuant to Order [25th November] to put forthwith the Question necessary to bring to a conclusion the proceedings on the Third Reading of the Bill.
  Question put, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."
  The House divided: Ayes, 333; Noes, 203.

  Division No. 134.]

  AYES

  [9.30 p.m.

  Acland, Sir Richard

  Benson, G.

  Chamberlain, R. A

  Adams, Richard (Balham)

  Berry, H.

  Chater, D.

  Albu, A. H.

  Bevan, Rt. Hon. A. (Ebbw Vale)

  Chetwynd, G. R.

  Alexander, Rt. Hon. A. V

  Bing, G. H. C.

  Cluse, W. S

  Allen, A. C. (Bosworth)

  Binns, J

  Cobb, F. A.

  Allen, Schotefield (Crewe)

  Blackburn, A. R

  Cocks, F. S.

  Alpass, J. H.

  Blenkinsop, A

  Colindridge, F.

  Anderson, F. (Whitehaven)

  Boardman, H.

  Collins. V. J.

  Attewell, H. C.

  Bowden, Flg. Offr. H. W.

  Colman, Miss G. M

  Attlee, Rt. Hon. C. R.

  Braddock, Mrs. E. M. (L'pl. Exch'ge)

  Cook, T. F.

  Austin, H. Lewis

  Braddock, T. (Mitcham)

  Cooper, G.

  Awbery, S. S.

  Bramall, E. A.

  Corbel, Mrs. F. K. (Camb'well, N. M.)

  Ayles, W. H.

  Brook, D. (Halifax)

  Corlett, Dr. J.

  Ayrton Gould, Mrs. B.

  Brooks, T. J. (Rothwell)

  Cove, W. G.

  Bacon, Miss A.

  Broughton, Dr. A. D. D.

  Crawley, A.

  Baird, J.

  Brown, George (Belper)

  Crossman, R. H. S

  Balfour, A.

  Brown, T. J. (Ince)

  Daggar, G.

  Barnes, Rt. Hon. A. J.

  Bruce, Mai. D. W. T.

  Daines, P.

  Barstow, P. G.

  Burden, T. W.

  Davies, Edward (Burslem)

  Barton, C.

  Burke, W. A.

  Davies, Harold (Leek)

  Batlley, J. R.

  Butler, H. W. (Hackney, S.)

  Davies, Haydn (St. Pancras, S.W.)

  Bechervaise, A. E.

  Callaghan, James

  Davies, R. J. (Westhoughlon)

  Bellenger, Rt. Hon. F. J.

  Castle, Mrs. B. A.

  Davies, S. O. (Merthyr)

  Deer, G

  Jones, Jack (Bolton)

  Ranger. J

  de Freitas, Geoffrey

  Jones, P. Asterley (Hitchin)

  Rankin, J.

  Delargy, H. J.

  Keenan, W.

  Rees-Williams, D. R

  Diamond, J.

  Kenyon, C.

  Reeves, J.

  Dobbie, W.

  Key, Rt. Hon. C. W.

  Reid, T. (Swindon)

  Dodds, N. N

  King, E. M.

  Rhodes, H.

  Donovan, T.

  Kinghorn, Sqn.Ldr. E

  Ridealgh, Mrs. M

  Driberg, T, E. N.

  Kinley, J

  Robens, A.

  Dugdale, J. (W. Bromwich)

  Lang, G.

  Roberts, Goronwy (Caennarvonshire)

  Dumpleton, C. W.

  Lavers, S.

  Robertson, J. J. (Berwick)

  Dye, S.

  Lawson, Rt. Hon. J. J.

  Robinson, K. (St. Pancras)

  Ede, Rt. Hon. J. C.

  Lee, Miss J. (Cannock)

  Rogers, G. H. R

  Edelman, M.

  Leslie, J. R.

  Royle, C.

  Edwards, John (Blackburn)

  Lever., N. H.

  Sargood, R.

  Edwards, Rt. Hon. N. (Caerphilly

  Levy, B. W.

  Scott-Elliot, W.

  Edwards, W. J. (Whitechapel)

  Lewis, A. W. J. (Upton)

  Segal, Dr. S

  Evans, Albert (Islington, W.)

  Lewis, J. (Bolton)

  Shackleton, E. A. A.

  Evans, E. (Lowestoft)

  Lewis, T. (Southampton)

  Sharp, Granville

  Evans, John (Ogmore)

  Lindgren, G. S.

  Shawcross, C. N. (Widnes)

  Evans, S. N. (Wednesbury)

  Lipton, Lt.-Col. M

  Shawcross, Rt. Hn. Sir H. (St. Helens)

  Ewart, R.

  Longden; F.

  Shinwell, Rt. Hon. E.

  Fairhurst, F.

  Lyne, A. W.

  Shurmer, P

  Farthing, W. J

  McAdam, W.

  Silkin, Rt. Hon. L.

  Fernyhough, E.

  McAllister, G.

  Silverman, J. (Erdington)

  Field, Capt. W. J.

  McEntee, V. La T.

  Silverman, S. S. (Nelson)

  Fletcher, E. G. M. (Islington, E.)

  McGhee, H. G.

  Simmons, C. J.

  Follick, M.

  Mack, J. D.

  Skeffington, A M.

  Foot, M. M.

  McKay, J. (Wallsend)

  Skeffington-Lodge, T C.

  Forman, J. C.

  Mackay, R. W. G. (Hull, N.W.)

  Skinnard, F. W.

  Freeman, Peter (Newport)

  Maclean, N. (Govan)

  Smith, C. (Colchester)

  Freeman, J. (Watford)

  McLeavy, F.

  Smith, S. H. (Hull, S.W.)

  Gaitskell, Rt. Hon. H. T. N.

  MacMillan, M. K. (Western Isles)

  Solley, L. J.

  Ganley, Mrs. C. S.

  MacPherson, Malcolm (Stirling)

  Sorensen, R. W

  Gibbins, J.

  Macpherson, T. (Romford)

  Soskice, Rt. Hon. Sir Frank

  Gibson, C. W

  Mainwaring, W. H.

  Sparks, J. A.

  Gilzean, A.

  Mallalieu, E. L. (Brigs)

  Stewart, Michael (Fulham, E.)

  Goodrich, H. E.

  Mallalieu, J. P. W. (Huddersfield)

  Stokes, R. R.

  Greenwood, Rt. Hon. A. (Wakefield)

  Mann, Mrs. J.

  Strachey, Rt. Hon. J.

  Greenwood, A. W. J. (Heywood)

  Manning, C. (Camberwell, N.)

  Strauss, Rt. Hon G. R. (Lambeth)

  Grenfell, D. R

  Manning, Mrs. L. (Epping)

  Stross, Dr. B.

  Grey, C. F.

  Marquand, Rt. Hon. H. A.

  Stubbs, A. E.

  Grierson, E.

  Mayhew, C. P.

  Summerskill, Rt. Hon. Edith

  Griffiths, D. (Rother Valley)

  Mellish, R J.

  Swingler, S.

  Griffiths, Rt. Hon. J. (Llanelly)

  Messer, F.

  Sylvester, G. O.

  Griffiths, W. D. (Moss Side)

  Middleton, Mrs. L

  Symonds, A. L.

  Guest, Dr. L. Haden

  Mikardo, Ian

  Taylor, R. J. (Morpeth)

  Gunter, R. J.

  Mitchison, G. R.

  Taylor, Dr. S. (Barnet)

  Guy, W. H.

  Monslow, W.

  Thomas, D. E. (Aberdare)

  Haire, John E. (Wycombe)

  Moody, A. S.

  Thomas, George (Cardiff)

  Hale, Leslie

  Morgan, Dr. H. B.

  Thomas, I. O. (Wrekin)

  Hall, Rt. Hon. Glenvil

  Morley, R.

  Thomas, John R. (Dover)

  Hamilton, Lieut.-Col. R.

  Morris, Lt.-Col. H. (Sheffield, C.)

  Thurtle, Ernest

  Hannan, W. (Maryhill)

  Morris, P. (Swansea, W.)

  Titterington, M. F.

  Hardman, D. R.

  Morrison, Rt. Min. H. (Lewisham E.)

  Tolley, L.

  Hardy, E. A.

  Mort, D. L.

  Tomlinson, Rt. Hon. G.

  Harrison, J.

  Moyle, A.

  Turner-Samuels, M.

  Hastings, Dr. Somerville

  Murray, J. D.

  Ungoed-Thomas, L.

  Haworth, J.

  Nally, W.

  Usborne, Henry

  Henderson, Rt. Hon. A. (Kingswinford)

  Naylor, T. E.

  Vernon, Maj. W. F.

  Henderson, Joseph (Ardwick)

  Neal, H. (Clayoross)

  Viant, S. P.

  Herbison, Miss M.

  Nichol, Mrs. M. E. (Bradford, N.)

  Walker, G. H.

  Hewitson, Capt. M.

  Nicholls, H. R. (Stratford)

  Wallace, H. W. (Walthamstow, E.)

  Hobson, C. R.

  Noel-Baker, Capt. F. E. (Branford)

  Warbey, W. N.

  Holman, P.

  Noel-Baker, Rt. Hon. P. J. (Derby)

  Watkins, T. E.

  Holmes, H. E. (Hemsworth)

  O'Brien, T.

  Webb, M. (Bradford, C.)

  Horabin, T. L.

  Oldfield, W. H.

  Weitzman, D.

  Houghton, A. L. N. D.

  Oliver, G. H.

  Wells, P. L. (Faversham)

  Hubbard, T.

  Orbach, M.

  Wells, W. 'T. (Walsall)

  Hudson, J. H. (Ealing, W.)

  Paling, Will T. (Dewsbury)

  West, D. G.

  Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayr)

  Palmer, A. M. F.

  Wheatley, Rt. Hn. J. T. (Edinb'gh, E.)

  Hughes, Hector (Aberdeen, N.)

  Pargiter, G. A.

  White, C. F. (Derbyshire, W.)

  Hughes, H. D. (W'lverh'pton, W.)

  Parker, J.

  White, H. (Derbyshire, N.E.)

  Hamel, H. (Hackney, C.)

  Parkin, B. T.

  Whiteley, Rt. Hon. W.

  Hynel, J. B. (Attercliffe)

  Paton, Mrs. F. (Rusheliffe)

  Wigg, George

  Irvine, A. J. (Liverpool)

  Paton, J. (Norwich)

  Wilcock, Group-Capt. C. A. B.

  Irving, W. J. (Tottenham, N.)

  Pearson, A.

  Wilkes, L

  Janner, B.

  Peart, T. F.

  Wilkins, W. A.

  Jay, D. P. T.

  Popplewell, E.

  Willey, F. T. (Sunderland)

  Jeger, G. (Winchester)

  Porter, E. (Warrington)

  Willey, O. G. (Cleveland)

  Jeger, Dr. S. W. (St. Pancras, S.E.)

  Porter, G. (Leeds)

  Williams, D. J. (Neath)

  Jenkins, R. H.

  Price, M. Philips

  Williams, J. L. (Kelvingrove)

  Johnston, Douglas

  Pritt, D. N.

  Williams, Ronald (Wigan)

  Jones, Rt. Hon. A. C. (Shipley)

  Proctor, W. T.

  Williams, Rt. Hon. T. (Don Valley)

  Jones, D. T. (Hartlepool)

  Pursey, Comdr. H.

  Williams, W. T. (Hammersmith, S.)

  Jones, Elwyn (Plaistow)

  Randall, H. E.

  Williams, W. R. (Heston)

  1614

  1615

  Willis, E.

  Woods, G. S.

  Zilliacus, K

  Wills, Mrs. E. A.

  Yates, V. F.

  Wise, Major F. J.

  Young, Sir R. (Newton)

  TELLERS FOR THE AYES:

  Woodburn, Rt. Hon A.

  Younger, Hon. Kenneth

  Mr. Snow and Mr. George Wallace.

  NOES

  Agnew, Cmdr. P. G.

  Harris, F. W. (Croydon, N.)

  Nutting, Anthony

  Amory., D. Heathcoat

  Harris, H. Wilson (Cambridge Univ.)

  Odey, G. W

  Anderson, Rt. Hn. Sir J. (Scot. Univ.)

  Harvey, Air-Comdre. A. V

  O'Neill, Rt. Hon Sir H

  Assheton, Rt. Hon. R.

  Haughton, S. G

  Orr-Ewing, I. L.

  Astor, Hon. M.

  Head, Brig. A. H.

  Peake, Rt. Hon. O.

  Baldwin, A. E.

  Headlam, Lieut.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir C.

  Peto, Brig. C. H. M

  Barlow, Sir J.

  Henderson, John (Cathcart)

  Pickthorn, K.

  Baxter, A. B.

  Hinchingbrooke, Viscount

  Ponsonby, Col. C E

  Beamish, Maj. T. V. H.

  Hogg, Hon. Q.

  Poole, O. B. S. (Oswestry)

  Bennett, Sir P.

  Hollis, M. C.

  Prescott, Stanley

  Birch, Nigel

  Holmes, Sir J. Stanley (Harwich)

  Price-While, Lt.-Col. D.

  Boles, Lt.-Col. D. C. (Wells)

  Hope, Lord J.

  Prior-Palmer, Brig. O

  Boothby, R.

  Howard, Hon. A.

  Rakies, H. V.

  Bossom, A. C.

  Hudson, Rt. Hon. R. S. (Southport)

  Ramsay, Maj. S.

  Bowen, R.

  Hulbert, Wing-Cdr. N. J.

  Reed, Sir S. (Aylesbury)

  Bower, N.

  Hurd, A.

  Renton, D.

  Boyd-Carpenter, J. A.

  Hutchison, Lt.-Cm. Clark (E'b'rgh W.)

  Roberts, Emrys (Merioneth)

  Bracken, Rt. Hon. Brendan

  Hutchison, Col. J. R. (Glasgow, C.)

  Roberts, H. (Handsworth)

  Braithwaite, Lt.-Comdr. J. G.

  Jeffreys, General Sir G.

  Roberts, P. G. (Ecclesall)

  Bromley-Davenport, Lt.-Col. W.

  Jennings, R.

  Roberts, W. (Cumberland, N.)

  Bullock, Capt. M.

  Joynson-Hicks, Hon. L. W.

  Robinson, Roland (Blackpool, S.)

  Butcher, H. W.

  Keeling, E. H.

  Ropner, Col. L.

  Butler, Rt. He. R. A. (S'ffr'n W'ld'n)

  Kendall, W. D.

  Ross, Sir R. D. (Londonderry)

  Byers, Frank

  Kerr, Sir J. Graham

  Salter, Rt. Hon. Sir J. A.

  Carson, E.

  Kingsmill, Lt.-Col W. H

  Sanderson, Sir F.

  Challen, C.

  Lambert, Hon. G.

  Savory, Prof. D. L

  Chanson, H.

  Lancaster, Col. C. G.

  Scott, Lord W.

  Clarke, Col. R. S.

  Langford,Holt, J.

  Shephard, S. (Newark)

  Clifton-Brown. Lt.-Col. G.

  Law, Rt. Hon. R. K.

  Shepherd, W. S. (Bucklow)

  Conant, Maj. R. J. E.

  Legge-Bourke, Maj. E. A. H.

  Smiles, Lt.-Col. Sir W.

  Corbett, Lieut.-Col. U. (Ludlow)

  Lindsay, M. (Solihull)

  Smith, E. P. (Ashford)

  Crookshank, Capt. Rt. Hon. H. F. C.

  Linstead, H. N.

  Smithers, Sir W.

  Crosthwaite-Eyre, Col. O. F

  Lipson, D. L.

  Spearman, A. C. M

  Crowder, Capt. John E.

  Lloyd, Selwyn (Wirral)

  Spence, H. R.

  Cuthbert, W. N.

  Low, A. R. W.

  Stanley, Rt. Hon. O.

  Darling, Sir W. Y.

  Lucas, Major Sir J.

  Stoddart-Scott, Col. M.

  Davidson, Viscountess

  Lucas-Tooth, S. H.

  Strauss, Henry (English Universities)

  Davies, Rt. Hn. Clement (Montgomery)

  Lyttelton, Rt. Hon. O.

  Stuart, Rt. Hon. J (Moray)

  De la Bere, R.

  McCallum, Maj. D.

  Studholme, H. G.

  Digby, Simon Wingfield

  McCorquodale, Rt. Hon. M. S.

  Sutcliffe, H.

  Dodds-Parker, A. D.

  Macdonald, Sir P. (I. of Wight)

  Taylor, C. S. (Eastbourne)

  Donner. P. W.

  McFarlane, C. S.

  Taylor, Vice-Adm. E. A. (P'eld't'n, S.)

  Dower, Col. A. V. G. (Penrith)

  Mackeson, Brig. H. R.

  Teeling, William

  Drayson, G. B

  McKie, J. H. (Galloway)

  Thomas, Ivor (Keighley)

  Dugdale, Maj. Sir T. (Richmond)

  Maclay, Hon. J. S.

  Thomas, J. P. L. (Hereford)

  Duthie, W. S.

  Macmillan, Rt. Hon. Harold (Bromley)

  Thorneycroft, G. E. P. (Monmouth)

  Eccles, D. M.

  Macpherson, N. (Dumfries)

  Thornton-Kemsley, C. N.

  Eden, Rt. Hon. A.

  Maitland, Comdr. J. W.

  Thorp, Brigadier R. A. F.

  Edwards, A. (Middlesbrough, E.)

  Manningham-Buller, R. E

  Touche, G. C.

  Elliot, Lieut.-Col. Rt. Hon. Walter

  Marlowe, A. A. H.

  Turton, R. H.

  Erroll, F. J.

  Marples, A. E.

  Tweedsmuir, Lady

  Fleming, Sqn.-Ldr. E. L

  Marsden, Capt. A.

  Vane. W. M. E.

  Fletcher, W. (Bury)

  Marshall, D. (Bodmin)

  Wakefield, Sir W. W

  Foster, J. G. (Northwich)

  Marshall, S. H. (Sutton)

  Walker-Smith, D.

  Fox, Sir G.

  Maude, J. C.

  Ward, Hon. G. R.

  Fraser, H. C. P. (Stone)

  Medlicott, Brigadier F.

  Webbe, Sir H. (Abbey)

  Fraser, Sir I. (Lonsdale)

  Mellor, Sir J.

  Wheatley, Colonel M. J. (Dorset, E.)

  Fyfe, Rt. Hon. Sir D. P. M.

  Molson, A. H. E.

  White, Sir D. (Fareham)

  Gage, C.

  Moore, Lt.-Col. Sir T.

  White, J. B. (Canterbury)

  Galbraith, Cmdr. T. D. (Pollok)

  Morris, Hopkin (Carmarthen)

  Williams, C. (Torquay)

  Galbraith, T. G. D. (Hillhead)

  Morris-Jones, Sir H.

  Williams, Gerald (Tonbridge)

  Gates, Maj. E. E.

  Morrison, Maj. J. G. (Salisbury)

  Willoughby de Eresby, Lord

  George, Lady M. Lloyd (Anglesey)

  Morrison, Rt. Ho. W. S. (Cirencester)

  Winterton, Rt. Hon. Earl

  Glyn, Sir R.

  Mott-Radclyffe, C. E.

  York, C.

  Gomme-Duncan, Col. A.

  Neill, Sir William (Belfast, N.)

  Young, Sir A. S. L. (Partick)

  Grimston, R. V.

  Neven-Spence, Sir B.

  Hannon, Sir P. (Moseley)

  Nicholson, G.

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES:

  Harden, J. R. E.

  Nield, B. (Chester)

  Mr. Buchan-Hepburn and

  Hare, Hon. J. H. (Woodbridge)

  Noble, Comdr. A. H. P.

  Mr. Drewe.

  Question put, and agreed to.

PROFITS AND CAPITAL ISSUES
Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."—[Mr. R. J. Taylor.]
9.44 p.m.
Mr. Ronald Chamberlain: In dealing with this rather wide subject of profits and capital issues, I want to make it quite clear at the outset that I have no quarrel basically with profits as such, which are at the present time a necessary and integral part of our economy. Many thousands of small traders, shopkeepers, professional men, farmers and so on live upon the profits they make on their businesses and industries. They put into the national pool of goods and services as much as they take out, which is a very essential principle. I want to make a clear distinction between that type of profit-making in which goods and services are abundantly given to the nation and the other kind of profit-making by what I would call "dormant profit-makers."
By that I make a distinction, which, I think, will be appreciated by all, that those who receive these profits do not necessarily put anything at all into the common pool, by way of goods and services, in return for the values which they take out, whether in the form of dividends, interest or capital appreciation. It is that second type of profit-making that I want to draw attention to tonight.
Colonel Dower: The hon. Gentleman said, "They do not put anything at all into the common pool." They are not, therefore, shareholders.
Mr. Chamberlain: I tried to explain that there must necessarily be a clear distinction between those who run small businesses and work hard, and receive profits in recognition of their service to the community, and those who receive profits although they certainly do not give any kind of service to the community.
Mr. Harrison: Parasites.
Mr. Chamberlain: I did not use that word, but it seems that my hon. Friend wishes to use it.
1618
My first contention is that trading profits of industry generally are and have been excessive, and this at a time of financial and economic stringency. Frankly, I believe that the policy of the Government in this matter has been characterised by a good deal of weakness. In my view, excessive profits are basically wrong. They cause a good deal of discontent on the part of those who work hard; they most certainly tend to increase prices and keep them high; they tend to endanger the recovery of the country; they have essentially an inflationary tendency; and they endanger our markets abroad because in time the cost of such goods may become excessive
Mr. McKie: The hon. Gentleman is making a great attack against profit-making companies. Will he give at least one example?
Mr. Chamberlain: If the hon. Gentleman will be a little patient I shall not only give him one example but, if time permits, many others. I cannot do better than quote from a speech made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House soon after he assumed office. My right hon. and learned Friend said:
"…the general volume of profits has been excessive over the last year or two,…"— [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th November, 1947 Vol. 444, c. 939.]
I quote that only because the Chancellor has been rather loud in his defence of the interests I am referring to tonight. In the White Paper of February, 1948, on Personal Incomes, Costs and Prices, there is a reference to profits which I have always considered to be very weak. It says:
"There is no justification at the present time for any rise in incomes from profits, rent and other like sources."
That is a weak attitude with regard to profits, rent and other like sources.
Sir Hugh Lucas-Tooth: On a point of Order. The hon. Member may be going to develop his argument, but in the meantime he has not referred to any matter for which any Minister could possibly be responsible. It may be that he is going to propose an Amendment to the Finance Bill, but if he does that must be out of Order. In the meantime, he has not referred to any matter to which the Government could possibly reply.
Mr. Chamberlain: I respectfully suggest that what I am speaking about is particularly within the province of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who issued the White Paper on personal incomes, profits, rents and other like sources.
Mr. Speaker: That is what I thought the hon. Member was referring to. A White Paper has been issued on this matter, and what is being said is not entirely outside the province of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
Mr. Sidney Shephard: I am rather hoping that the hon. Member will not only point out those companies which he considers are making an excessive profit, but that he will also refer to Morris Motors, whose profits published last week were down on last year to the extent of something like 50 per cent.
Mr. Chamberlain: I am making this speech and not the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Shephard), and I am going to make it not in the way which he wishes but in my own way.
When introducing the White Paper in the House the Chancellor went very much beyond the statement in that White Paper; he said:
"I have, therefore, addressed letters to the Federation of British Industries and other organisations representing respectively the manufacturers and wholesale and retail distributors both of food and of other goods, asking them to work out some plan for price and profit decreases, and to let me know within a month what they propose to do."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th February, 1948; Vol. 447, c. 597.]
What was the response by the Federation of British Industries? The request, which was very specific, was ignored entirely. The reply talked a great deal of other things—about the need for increased productivity and greater efforts, calling upon the Government to decrease their expenditure, and so far as prices were concerned it gave a very weak reference to a ceiling on selling prices, which it qualified by saying that there would be many exceptions to that. It similarly suggested a ceiling on dividends, although there again it suggested that there must be many exceptions. So far as what was specifically asked for by the Chancellor, namely, some plan for price and profit decreases, there was no answer whatever. It was ignored and—
Sir Peter Bennett Sir Peter Bennett (Birmingham, Edgbaston) rose—
Mr.Chamberlain: I am not going to give way.
Sir P. Bennett: I was the chairman of the committee which handled that matter.
Mr. Chamberlain: I have given way a number of times. What happened was that the Chancellor himself at a Press conference in July, 1948, said:
" Profits declared this year have been considerably higher than the 12 months previously."
Not only was that an acknowledgment that profits were still going up, but it was also an acknowledgment of the fact that the Federation of British Industries and associated organisations had not done anything effectively in the direction asked for by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
With regard to the actual evidence as to profits, if we look at Command Paper 7649, "National Income and Expenditure of the United Kingdom, 1946–48" we find some very clear evidence of the tremendous increase in profits. For instance, the trading profit of companies, which in 1938 was £543 million, 10 years later in 1948 had gone up to £1,639 million. Despite the greatly increased dividends—we all know that dividends have generally increased tremendously and I have myself given many examples —the gross additions to reserve of those companies was £257 million in 1938 and, in 1948, £1,215 million, nearly five times as much. Lest any one should say that the difference was entirely annulled by taxation, let me say that after taxation those reserves were still more than three times as much. The respective figures are £545 million and £170 million. I could give a number of individual cases where there has been continued increase in profits, and where, even after full deductions for debenture interest, depreciation, taxation and so on, there is still a tremendous increase in the net profit.
Mr. P. Roberts: Can the hon. Member give the corresponding increases in turnover of those companies? If the turnover increases one naturally expects the profit to increase accordingly.
Mr. Chamberlain: I am not giving those details. I could, if necessary, but

1621
I have not them with me. I am saying that lest it should be thought that the gross increases in the profits of some of these companies were annulled by the additional fences which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has put up in the way of taxation, there is still a very great and continuous increase in the profits.
On that basis of great and growing profits we have today the widespread process of capital appreciation on a very large scale, a matter to which I now want to call the attention of the House. In this process, there are tremendous individual tax-free fortunes being made. There was a Treasury memorandum of guidance to the Capital Issues Committee on 31st May, 1945, and there were two later memoranda of guidance, dated 2nd September, 1947, and a more recent one on 14th April, 1949. In all these papers, and particularly in the first, there is very clear emphasis from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Capital Issues Committee on the need for careful discrimination in regard to new capital issues, and limitation of those issues to companies engaged on essential production.
The memorandum of 31st May, 1945, practically prohibits the issue of capital for
"acquisition, amalgamation or absorption of existing undertakings."
During the past year I have made a very close study of 100 companies which come into the category to which I have referred, of acquisition, amalgamation or absorption of existing undertakings. They have all received permission from the Capital Issues Committee for this process of re-organisation. They covered a great variety of industries and they were all within the year 1948. I find that in those 100 companies the pre-war profits were about £3,300,000 and the profits in the last ascertained year, 1947–48, were about £16,300,000.
It being Ten o'Clock, the Motion for the Adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put.
Motion made, and Question proposed. "That this House do now adjourn."—[Mr. Popplewell.]
Mr. Chamberlain: The gross aggregate profit of those 100 companies has been multiplied by five. The combined nominal capital before reconstruction
1622
was in the region of £15,500,000 and after reconstruction it was in the region of £34 million, but the market value of those new issues was about £97 million; so that from an original nominal capital of £15,500,000, by this process we arrive at capital which is now worth about £97 million, which is an increase of over £80 million. None of that money has gone into the businesses; it has all gone into the pockets of the original shareholders of those companies, and that is the essential thing about this. If it were money going into the businesses for further development, that would be quite justifiable, but all those company reconstructions involve money going to individuals. In practically all cases a portion, sometimes the whole, of the newly-issued capital was put on the market at greatly inflated values. In nearly all cases a certain proportion was retained. There was every reason for a retention of a portion because in all these cases a very high rate of dividend was being received.
Associated with that is the rather minor matter of bonus issues. In the year 1947–48 the amount issued was about £5 million, in 1948–49 £7 million and this year it is estimated to be about £10 million, but the real value of these bonus issues is vastly more than that. There was a recent case of a bonus issue of something over 500,000 ordinary £1 shares and the market value of them was equal to about £3 million, so that the Capital Issues Committee in sanctioning 567,000 £1 shares as a bonus issue were virtually making a gift of £3 million.
I can guess what my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary is going to say. I have every respect and regard for him, but I know the Chancellor's line on this kind of thing, and I know that we shall be told that this is only one form of capital appreciation, that there are many types of capital appreciation and that it is impossible to differentiate between them. I hold that this form of capital appreciation is quite different from other forms. Though it may represent a form of capital appreciation, having shares inscribed to one in this way is essentially different from a transaction over a house or some other object where there is at least a risk in regard to quality or the market.
My other answer to this would be that this was something which the Capital

1623
Issues Committee should certainly have checked and could have stopped entirely. Indeed, the instructions to which I have referred give a very clear lead to the Capital Issues Committee to stop this kind of thing. Secondly, my evidence is that the fences and obstacles which the Chancellor has put in the way of high profits—I have no doubt that the Economic Secretary will refer to the increased Profits Tax—have been effectively overcome; in other words, with continually rising profits, it is not difficult to step over the fences which the Chancellor has placed in the way of these great profits.
Thirdly, I have no doubt we shall be told that the captains of industry have exercised restraint and moderation—in fact that is the rather extraordinary formula which the Federation of British Industries has used in its recent correspondence. I think the facts to which I have called attention demonstrate clearly that this purported moderation and restraint means nothing whatever in actual fact.
Fourthly, we shall probably be told that the proportion of profits, interest and rent after taxation have decreased in the national income. Indeed the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Italy recently referred to the drop from 34 per cent. in 1938 to 28 per cent. in 1948, that being the proportion of this element in the national income. Put in that way, as reported, it is a most misleading representation of profits, because it refers only to the distributed profits and, after all, there are enormous profits which are undistributed but which still remain the property of the shareholders.
I ask the Economic Secretary to realise that there are these great profits and not to camouflage the matter. These things are against the stated Government policy, they are forcing up and keeping up prices of all commodities, and I submit that they are jeopardising our national recovery as well as our industrial peace.
10.3 p.m.
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: In a few minutes I shall answer one or two of the points which the hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Chamberlain) has raised. It seems to me that he has not the slightest idea of what profits mean, to whom they belong, or
1624
what they are used for—otherwise his speech was excellent. In the first place, he seemed to make some distinction between a dormant profit—I think that was his phrase—and the profit earned by an individual in the course of his effort. He must realise, unless he is going to say that savings are no good, that the only way in which investment occurs is by people out of their own earnings in the immediate present investing either in their own business or in some other business. To try to draw distinction between the chap who invests in his own business and the person who buys shares is just nonsense. It does not bear any investigation, and his definition simply means that if one makes money in one's own shop by overcharging the public, well and good, but if one invests in a share, whether it be gilt-edged or otherwise, then one is a robber of the public.
Mr. Chamberlain Mr. Chamberlain rose—
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: No, I have only five minutes.
Mr. Chamberlain: The hon. and gallant Gentleman is misrepresenting me.
Mr. Henry Strauss: The hon. Member can explain himself in the "Daily Worker," as usual.
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: The hon. Gentleman went on to say that profits are too high and produced a lot of figures, but refused to tell the House what is the profit ratio either in relation to turnover or in regard to the needs of industry. If he looks at any industrial paper he may have read that the sums set aside by industry during the war for renewing their equipment are now proved to be insufficient, that the cost of replacement has gone up over and above whatever was anticipated in the war years and, therefore, any company that is to try to fulfil the export drive of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and is to try to compete in the future, particularly now that the sellers' market is ending, has to put further and larger sums aside to buy new machinery. If the hon. Member is to prove his case that profits are too large, he must prove two things: first, that the profits have not been set aside for depreciation, and second, that they have been given in unwarranted quantities to the shareholders. I am quite certain that neither of those things can be proved.

1625
The hon. Gentleman talks about what the Chancellor has said, but we all know that from time to time the Chancellor finds it necessary to encourage his back benchers by a tilt against industry; but anyone who reads his more sober statements will see that no one has been more enthusiastic than he about the way British industry has responded to the demands made upon it. I am certain that my hon. Friend the Member for Edgbaston (Sir P. Bennett), who has now left the Chamber, and who was chairman of the Committee which dealt with this question, would be able to say that the Chancellor, as reported in the Press, thoroughly endorsed the action taken by British industry. It is our complaint, however, particularly of nationalisation and of the Bill which was before the House earlier today, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, far from recognising what has been done by British industry, instead of helping it, takes advantage of British industry by confiscating it at a price for which he could not get it if British industry had been free to distribute that which it had earned.
Then the hon. Member went on to talk about capital and bonus issues. Here, honestly, he reached Alice-in-cloudcuckoo-Socialist-land. Never have I heard such tripe and drivel as he talked. He started by saying that capital appreciation was made by some collection of money that was obtained—he did not say where from—and which was then handed out in large spoonfuls to an unnamed number of people at some whim, I gather, of the directors.
Mr. Chamberlain: Shall I inform the hon. and gallant Gentleman?
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: Yes, if the hon. Member can do so quickly.
Mr. Chamberlain: There is a private company. A new private company is formed to take it over. Let us say that the directors in the previous company had £10,000 nominal each. They are now given £100,000 in the new company, and because the company has been doing well the £100,000 is now worth £400,000. They unload some of the shares on the public; others they retain. That is putting it in a nutshell for the hon. and gallant Gentleman.
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: The only nutshell that would surprise me is a groundnut shell. I will take the hon. Member's own example. Here is a company with £10,000 nominal capital.
Mr. Chamberlain: No, £10,000 for each individual.
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: The hon. Gentleman is too late. Instead of taking each individual, we will take one company with £10,000. They sell it for £100,000. The only way they could do so is because, instead of taking profits out of the company, they have been prepared to leave them in the company for its advancement.
Mr. Beswick: Who are "they"?
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: The owners of the company.
Mr. Beswick Mr. Beswick rose—
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: I cannot give way; I have only one minute left.
Mr. Chamberlain: The hon. and gallant Gentleman does not understand.
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: It is perfectly clear that if one founds a company with £10,000, and that company earns £1,000 in a year, it is possible either to take that £1,000 out or to leave it in the business—
Mr. Beswick: Or reduce the price.
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre:—for the simple reason that unless that £1,000 is left in, the business cannot be expanded to provide better service or get the main things we all want: exports and better costings.
Mr. Beswick Mr. Beswick rose—
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: I cannot give way. The point is that if that £1,000 is left in, it improves the value of the business—it must do so.
Mr. Beswick: For whom?
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: For everybody concerned—producers, consumers, and the nation, by exports, and so on. Therefore, if a business is improved in that way it is only right that from time to time the money invested in that company by way of ploughed profits and increased machinery should be represented in the

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balance sheet of the company by bringing the nominal and the actual capital into balance. Unless that is done, the company is a fake. Anyone who thinks about this for a moment can understand it. Otherwise, someone can say, "Let us have a company worth £10,000 nominal; it is actually worth £100,000, but what do we care about that? We have £10,000, and that is all we mind. We do not mind what happens from the point of view of accounting." But what happens about the future of the company, especially as far as its workers or shareholders are concerned?
We raised this issue with the former Minister of Fuel and Power on the Electricity Bill. There is not a single company which can be brought to the attention of the House in which a bonus issue of shares has been made which represents anything like a re-alignment of nominal and actual capital and not a single company which can be brought to the attention of the House which has given the shareholders anything more than a true holding in their company. In more cases than not where these bonus issues are quoted, what has happened is that where the shares received have increased, the shares they originally held have decreased and their total holding is exactly the same. I suggest that before these wild accusations are made it would be well to have some understanding of the problem of British industry in trying to attain the targets set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
10.16 p.m.
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Douglas Jay): I do not complain at all of my hon. Friend the Member for Norwood (Mr. Chamberlain), raising this subject, because it is not a bad thing that someone should keep an eye on these matters But I hope my hon. Friend will not create the impression by his speeches or writings that this Government have been slow to limit dividends or to tax profits, because that it not the case.
My hon. Friend's first point was that the Government had not limited profits and dividends. The actual course of events has been made clear in the White Paper which he quoted. He said, quite rightly, that trading profits of companies had risen sharply over the last year, but
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he did not mention that tax payments have actually gone up from £515 million in 1947 to £670 million in 1948. He told us that additions to free reserves, after paying taxes, had risen from £425 million to £545 million. Again, he did not inform us that as a result of these changes the actual total paid out in dividends has fallen by £14 million between the one year and the next. That fulls the policy we have been trying to carry out.
The large increase in sums placed to reserve is, from the economic point of view, an addition to the country's savings which we need to finance the investment programme. But, from the point of view of redistribution of property, it means a further accumulation of property in the hands of the shareholding section of the community. For that reason, as I said in the Budget Debate a month ago. it is a further argument for simultaneous redistribution of property by other means. Nevertheless, while private companies continue to limit their dividends voluntarily and place these large sums to reserve, we do not see any present necessity for further special action by the Government.
My hon. Friend also drew attention to various company reconstructions and offers for sale of old securities, some of which it is true have meant large capital gains for private individuals. I do not think the hon. and gallant Member for New Forest and Christchurch (Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre) denied that. But my hon. Friend did not mention the capital losses made at the same time by various other companies, and although there have been fewer bankruptcies under this Government than under any in living memory, nevertheless there have been some.
Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre: From the point of view of clarity, although I did not deny the statement, will the hon. Gentleman give one instance of which he disapproves?
Mr. Jay: No, I did not say there was any instance of which I disapproved. I am coming to that point. But there have been instances of capital profits. I think there is some misunderstanding here of the function of the Capital Issues Committee. It is, of course, the job of that Committee to see that if any old securities are sold to the public—if a private company, for instance, is turned into a public

1629
one—those shares are not sold at obviously exaggerated values. But if the value of the company has risen over the period it is not the job of the Capital Issues Committee to prevent its being sold for what it is now worth. Clearly, therefore, if the company's value has risen, a capital gain may be made by selling it to the public for its present value. I agree that does raise the question of whether there is a case for some sort of tax on capital gains. I believe that there is a general case for something of that kind, although very great difficulties—
Mr. Shephard: What about capital losses?
Mr. Jay: The first difficulty, of course, is, as the hon. Member says—
Mr. Speaker: This is out of Order on the Adjournment.
Mr. Jay: I realise that, Mr. Speaker, although it is somewhat difficult to discuss the question of profits raised by the hon. Member without referring to it. If I were able to go into it, it would be possible to show that we should not add greatly to our revenue at the present time by embarking on any sort of enterprise of that kind The arguments which the hon. Member has advanced will not really lead to that conclusion, but they do lead to the conclusion that there is a strong case for the measures which we have actually taken over this last few years, both to limit dividends and to tax profits in various ways. If it were in Order, I could give the hon. Member examples of figures which would show that that is so.
Colonel Dower: Limitation of dividends is to prevent over-expenditure.
Mr. Jay: Certainly, and I claim that it has to some extent succeeded.
The hon. Member raised the question of bonus issues. Now that the worst inflationary symptoms have worn off, we have, as the hon. Member knows, decided to leave it to the Capital Issues Committee to ensure that the more undesirable type of bonus issue does not take place. Issues of more than £50,000 will need the permission of that Committee. In theory, of course, a bonus issue—and I think this was the point the hon. and gallant Member was making—need not raise either the total market value of a shareholder's holding, or lead to increases
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in the actual sum paid out in dividends. But I agree that very often in practice—as I myself have argued in the past in this House—it does in fact do so. Therefore, from the point of view of dividend limitation, and in relation to bonus issues, I would make it perfectly clear tonight that we shall not regard a company as having honoured its obligation to limit dividends if after a bonus issue it pays the same nominal dividends but distributes an actual larger sum in money to the shareholders. It is only the sum distributed, and not the nominal dividend, which must count from this point of view if dividend limitation is to be honoured.
It is in the light of that principle that we shall watch the fulfilment by industry of their promise—which by and large, in our opinion has been fulfilled over the past year—to exercise restraint in the distribution of profits. Meantime, so far as bonus issues are concerned, we shall rely on the Capital Issues Committee to judge them on their merits and to use their discretion to refuse consent to any that appear unnecessary or undesirable. But, as I explained, that will not imply that an issue will not he permitted because, although the value of the shares, is perfectly reasonably calculated, it may involve capital gains for the individuals concerned. We take the view that with those safeguards and limitations we have gone a very long way to control and to limit the inflationary dangers which I agree are inherent in high prices in economic circumstances like the present.
Mr. Chamberlain: Would the hon. Gentleman also admit that these tendencies about which I have been speaking have the effect of raising prices and retaining them at an extremely inflated level? Is not that also a tendency?
Mr. Jay: I should have thought that high profits are probably the result of excessive prices rather than the cause of them. If, of course, prices are allowed to be too high and so enable excessive profits to be earned, it is really the business of the price control authorities to find the remedy.
10.25 p.m.
Mr. Harold Roberts: The hon. Member for Norwood (Mr. Chamberlain) appeared to be afraid that he would get the cane from the Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

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His fears were groundless because, in effect, he only said what the Economic Secretary himself said in discussing Death Duties. The real complaint of both these hon. Gentlemen is that some people have the hardihood and presumption to make some money which appears to be, and is, regarded by the soapbox school of thought as a high crime and misdemeanour. Of course, it is cloaked in the decent verbiage of "anti-inflationary tendencies." Why it should be inflationary for a man to make a large capital coup and not inflationary for a large body of workpeople to receive a bonus of 5s. a week, I do not know. The bonus for the workpeople may be very good. It may be well earned and well deserved but it represents a large addition to the volume of purchasing power, an addition which is very much greater than the £200,000 or so made by a speculator.
The trouble is that the hon. Member for Norwood is simply talking the language of the unregenerate Socialist, and the hon. Gentleman who answered
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him is talking the language of decency imposed upon those who occupy Ministerial office, who have to try to reconcile the actual requirements of the Treasury with the requirements of their own party, their own back benchers. They dare not say that the nostrums sought to be imposed upon them are nonsense, but they have to point out that really it is a very good thing, though they do not think that they can quite do it. Finally, people who have sold houses with vacant possession and made large capital profits have been much attacked as very wicked people. They will be consoled to find that the hon. Member for Norwood appeared to regard their behaviour as legitimate, because in his judgment, as I understand him, the only wretches who ought not to be allowed to make anything at all are those who are known as shareholders.
Mr. Chamberlain: I did not say that.
Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-eight Minutes past Ten o'Clock.

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