§ 14. Mr. MOLTENOasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Comptroller and Auditor-General has made a Report to Parliament upon the working of the arrangements for the withdrawal of Treasury control from certain classes of war expenditure, as provided for in the Treasury Minutes dated 8th December, 1914, 29th March, 1915, and 29th January, 1915; and, if not, when such Report will be made?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. McKenna)The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Treasury Minutes to which my hon. Friend refers came into force towards the end of the financial year 1914–15, and it will be open to the Comptroller and Auditor-General to include any comments which he desires to make on their working in his Reports on the Army and Navy Appropriation Accounts for that year and subsequent years.
§ 15. Mr. MOLTENOasked whether the Comptroller and Auditor-General has made any comment on the use of the special power given to the Secretary of State for War by the Treasury Minute of the 8th December, 1914, and the Treasury Minute of the 29th January, 1915; and whether he has called the attention of the Treasury to any cases in which these powers may appear to have been exceeded?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not aware of any comment by the Comptroller and Auditor-General upon the Treasury Minutes referred to. He has not drawn the attention of the Treasury to any cases in which the powers given thereunder have been exceeded.
§ 16. Mr. MOLTENOasked who is now responsible for the making of contracts for the War Office requirements containing special financial provisions of an unusual character, such as specific capital advances to contractors for plant and which provides specifically for assistance to the contractor in respect of the additional capital outlay involved; whether such contracts would require Treasury sanction in times of peace, but are now made without that sanction; by what Department or Departments are such contracts now made, and who is responsible to the House of Commons for them; and whether he can state what amount has been advanced for special advances to contractors up to the present time?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Secretary of State and the Minister of Munitions of War are responsible to Parliament for the contracts made by them respectively, including contracts of the special character referred to, which would not be made in time of peace without Treasury sanction. The Treasury has no information as to the amount advanced to contractors by way of special advances up to the present time.