§ 36. Mr. Morrisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to announcements of the sale of publicly-owned firms when the House of Commons is not sitting.
§ Mr. BarberI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the announcement by the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency on 16th January of152W the sale of five small steel companies. During the Report stage of the Iron and Steel Bill in the House of Lords in 1953 an assurance was given on behalf of the Government that the Treasury would lay particulars of important disposal operations before Parliament as soon as practicable. This undertaking has been fulfilled in the case of all the Agency's disposal operations, including the transactions announced on 16th January.