Mr David Ginsburg: While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask whether he does not feel that a more categorical assurance is required? Is he not aware that, after the last debate on Richard Thomas and Baldwins, Mr. Clore's spokesman announced that he would be interested in acquiring a substantial share of the equity if he were approached? Does not the Chancellor feel that a statement on...
Mr David Ginsburg: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in the interests of furthering a property-owning democracy, he will consider introducing a statutory restriction on the size of equity shareholding that may be sold or acquired in steel companies yet to be denationalised.
Mr David Ginsburg: Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are extremely respectable precedents for a policy of that kind? Is he not aware that he himself sets a limit on the holdings of National Savings Certificates and that the German Government, in denationalising Volkswagen, have made a limit on the number of equity shares which can be held so that the company can be owned by the small investor and...
Mr David Ginsburg: I am sure that many hon. Members will share the anxiety expressed by the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Sir D. Campbell) about the long-term economic outlook in Northern Ireland. We all hope that the Government will take action to deal with its unemployment problem. I shall return to the question of the general economic strategy which the Government are now pursuing, but before doing so I...
Mr David Ginsburg: On a point of order. May I ask, Mr. Speaker, whether the hon. Member is rising to speak on behalf of himself or on behalf of the Government?
Mr David Ginsburg: asked the Prime Minister what instructions he has given to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister for Science, in view of the difficulties of recruitment of scientists to the Civil Service as revealed in paragraphs 9 and 33–37 of the Civil Service Commission's Report.
Mr David Ginsburg: Does the Prime Minister think that his reply does justice to the seriousness of this problem at the present time? Is he not aware that half the vacancies in the Senior Scientific Officer grade are going unfilled and that 80 per cent. of the vacancies in the Scientific Officer Grade are going unfilled? Does he not think that this reflects both on the pay level in the scientific Civil Service...
Mr David Ginsburg: asked the Prime Minister whether, in the light of the recent case of Churchill v. Nabarro in the High Court, he will clarify the regulations governing the conduct of Cabinet Ministers under the Official Secrets Acts in their relations with journalists.
Mr David Ginsburg: Is the Prime Minister aware that the question which goes to the heart of this action, of whether Cabinet secrets were reported verbatim or not, reflects gravely on the honour of Ministers? Is not he aware that it is a cause of grave disquiet in the country, and will not he hold an inquiry.
Mr David Ginsburg: asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish separate statistics on the level of orders in the cotton textile and wool textile industries.
Mr David Ginsburg: Will the Minister consider the matter again? Will he bear in mind that we are dealing with two very different industries and that the present classification obscures that fact?
Mr David Ginsburg: asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the change in the level of net new orders for clothing and textiles for the third quarter of 1960 compared with the third quarter of 1959.
Mr David Ginsburg: Is not this a very serious decline indeed? Is the Minister satisfied that the prospects for production are reassuring at the present time?
Mr David Ginsburg: asked the Prime Minister what representations he has received from Mr. Nehru about the low-priced textbooks to be supplied to India under the Government's scheme.
Mr David Ginsburg: While welcoming that assurance, may I ask whether the Prime Minister is aware that only one economic textbook has been provided for India under that scheme, namely, Marshall's "Principles of Economics," first published in 1890? Will the Prime Minister consult the publishers; they are a firm very well known to him? Have they not something a little more up to date in stock? Will he suggest to...
Mr David Ginsburg: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the investigation of Civil Service Scientific Salary Scales by the Pay Research Unit was initiated; and when he expects the report to be received.
Mr David Ginsburg: I welcome this news, but would the Chancellor impress upon the Treasury the need for urgency? There is an acute shortage of scientists in the Civil Service. The Civil Service Commission is having great difficulty in recruitment. In the case of the assistant scientist grade an interim award was made in 1957, conditional upon an investigation by the Pay Research Unit, so that there has been a...
Mr David Ginsburg: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that his permission for the sale of the Ford Motor Company will remain contingent upon the full payment being made in dollars.
Mr David Ginsburg: While welcoming that assurance, may I ask the Chancellor to confirm that in previous transactions of this kind dollars have always been paid and that there has been no question of drawing on overseas balances?
Mr David Ginsburg: asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for the further registration of restrictive trading agreements under Section 9 of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1956.