§ 26. Mr. BILLINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the order for the Sopwith triplane scout has been altered or cancelled; and, if it has been cancelled, will he say when this machine was offered to the authorities; when the order was placed; what number were ordered, and what deliveries have taken place, and if this order has been cancelled for what reason?
§ Major BAIRDParts 2, 3, and 5 of this question are repetition of a question addressed to me by the hon. Member on the 12th instant. I regret that I can add nothing to the reply which I then gave him. It would be contrary to the public interest to furnish the remainder of the information asked for.
§ Mr. BILLINGMay I ask whether it is not in the public interest or in the interests of this House that contracts of this description, which are unfortunate, should be discussed or debated?
§ Major BAIRDNo. The interests of the House and of the public, I take it, are the same as the interests of the nation, and at this particular moment it is very undesirable that we should give to Germany information which would enable them to know how long it takes us to produce new machines?
§ Mr. BILLINGIs the hon. Member not aware that this machine was offered by this firm twelve months ago this month, and that it took eight months for the authorities to make up their minds what they were going to do about it?
§ Major BAIRDOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. I have just invited the attention of the hon. Gentleman to the point that it is not desirable to give information 1724 to Germany as to the time which it takes us to get machines out, and he has just stated precisely the thing that I have said, it is not in the public interest to state.
§ Mr. BILLINGI should like to point out, Mr. Speaker, that the information I asked for was not how long it took for us to turn it out, but how long it took our authorities to make up their minds?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is one disadvantage of asking questions without putting them down on the Paper.