asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to whom the buildings at Renfrew aerodrome have been disposed of; if he can state the purchase price; and whether the sale was effected by private treaty or by public auction.

The Renfrew aerodrome has not been disposed of. I assume the hon. Member refers to Inchinnan airship station, adjacent to the Renfrew aerodrome. This property was declared surplus in 1920 and since then has been extensively advertised for sale. It was sold in February last to Messrs. Murray McVinnie & Company, the offer of that firm being the highest received. It is not desirable, in the public interest, to disclose the price obtained.

May I ask why the price which was received for material which was the property of the Government should not be disclosed to Members of this House?

The hon. Member has repeatedly asked that as a supplementary question, and I have repeatedly replied that it is not in the public interest to answer it. If the hon. Member will choose one day to come along, I shall be happy to show him why.

Is there any reason at all why information which can be divulged to a private Member cannot be disclosed to this House? Surely it is in the interest of the Government itself that information asked for—

Speech!

If the Minister says it is not in the public interest, we can go no further.

What redress have we? Why is it not in the public interest?

If a Minister says it is not, we can only accept the statement.

I would like to ask, Mr. Speaker, whether you have any power to make Ministers do what they are asked to do, in consequence of huge sums of public money being involved?

We are not a trade union.

You never will be.

I would like to be able to make many Members do what I want.

You can always make me do what you want.

On a point of Order. May I say that it is an abuse of the privilege held by Ministers if they are to reply to questions which endeavour to elicit necessary information in the manner indicated?

It has always been understood in the House that the duty of Ministers is to protect the public interest, and if they make that plea, we cannot go any further.