Mr Herbert Williams: Is not the annual interest charge on this enterprise about £1 million a year?
Mr Herbert Williams: asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what revenue is obtained, as the result of the equipment and ancillary services, the estimated cost of which in the year ended 31st March, 1954, amounted to £774,600.
Mr Herbert Williams: Might I suggest that one way of getting an inquiry is to give the Bill a Second Reading so that it can be examined upstairs?
Mr Herbert Williams: I beg to move, That it be an Instruction to the Committee on the Bill to leave out Clause 11. As we spent rather a long time on the previous Measure, I shall endeavour to be shorter than otherwise might have been the case. That sentiment will, I hope, receive your approbation, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. Clause 11 is a very strange Clause, and it is also unique. The fact that a thing is done for the...
Mr Herbert Williams: I do not monopolise anything. It is not my fault if people think that my advice is worth taking. I should be very interested to discuss the point on some other occasion, but the hon. Gentleman need not be jealous. I only saw the petition today and do not know any of the petitioners, but they are numerous. There are the National Farmers' Union; the British Flower Association—the...
Mr Herbert Williams: Maybe, but I have never been engaged in the wholesale or retail distribution of what is called market garden produce. However, as a customer who moves about, as do most, I have observed that very often a Rood deal of the trade is done by the mobile market—the lorry which is loaded up at the market garden or farm and sent round a particular town delivering the requisite consignments of...
Mr Herbert Williams: That may be so—
Mr Herbert Williams: I do not know whether the hon. Member said he was a licensed hawker, or words to that effect. All I am concerned with is whether or not he has read the Bill. He may have been engaged for 28 years in retail distribution—
Mr Herbert Williams: I am very sorry that the hon. Member is so careless in his utterances that we cannot understand what he said and he cannot recollect what he did say. If the hon. Member interrupted a little less frequently, it might help the debate. That kind of distribution, as I understand the Bill, would become illegal.
Mr Herbert Williams: I have not got a copy of the Bill. There are a very few copies. It is the case that for many years—
Mr Herbert Williams: The hon. Gentleman has accused me of uttering a downright untruth. A downright untruth is a breach of the way in which we conduct business in this House. If an hon. Member says something which may be inaccurate, it is not the practice to describe that as an untruth.
Mr Herbert Williams: I now have a copy of the Bill. I was labouring under a disability.
Mr Herbert Williams: The only effect of these ceaseless interruptions is to prolong the debate. I am never put off by interruptions—
Mr Herbert Williams: I find that I had overlooked subsection (2, b). I make mistakes from time to time. I do not see why it should cause anyone distress. But because I have made an honest mistake, I object strongly to it being described as an untruth, because one is intentional and the other is inadvertent.
Mr Herbert Williams: The hon. Gentleman's first statement was different.
Mr Herbert Williams: I will do my best, Mr. Deputy-Speaker.
Mr Herbert Williams: It is true that there are certain provisos which limit the extent of the monopoly, but that does not alter the fact that the whole conception of the Clause is to create a partial monopoly. As I am one of those who are opposed to monopolies, I am opposed to this Clause. This Clause, as I have said earlier, is novel. It is a power not possessed by any other local authority in this country. To...
Mr Herbert Williams: I am rather pleased to hear that, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. As I said earlier, I have no desire unduly to prolong this debate, because there is another Private Bill to be taken after this one and then there are Affirmative Resolutions in connection with Sunday cinematograph entertainments. As I—in common with many other hon. Members—got to bed very late last night, I am undesirous of...
Mr Herbert Williams: The hon. Gentleman says that I overlooked the point; but, on the other hand, the argument put forward by my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) with regard to the wholesale distributors has not been met.
Mr Herbert Williams: In view of the offers which have been made by the hon. Member for Coventry, East (Mr.Crossman) and the hon. Member for Coventry, North (Mr. Edelman), I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Motion in order that the matter may be examined by a Committee.
