§ Major GLYNasked the Prime Minister whether it is anticipated that the work of the Ministry of Snipping will be finally terminated by the end of the financial year; and what decision has been arrived at concerning the future of the transport branch of that Department?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister yesterday to a question by the right hon. Member for Peebles and South Midlothian (Sir D. Maclean).
Major BARNESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping if among the expert advisers attached to the Ministry of Shipping there are any persons directly or indirectly interested in Messrs. Sperling and Company and the Hull Joint Dock Company; if so, who are they; and if they took any part in the negotiations for the sale of properties to these two companies?
Colonel WILSONThere is no one among the expert advisers attached to the Ministry of Shipping who is directly or indirectly interested in Messrs. Sperling, but Sir John Esplen, Chief Technical Adviser (Honorary) to the Shipping Controller, was one of the expert advisers who assisted the Ministry of Shipping in the negotiations for the sale of Chepstow Shipyards. He is a director of the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company, one of the parties interested in the purchase, for whom Messrs. Sperling and Company acted. Mr. Henry Boyd was Director (Honorary) of the National Shipyards whilst they were under the control of the Government, and has since become a director of the Monmouth Shipbuilding Company. I need hardly say both the Shipping Controller and myself have always been fully aware of these facts.