§ 36. Mr. ATKEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether he was aware that at the urgent request of Colonel Martin Deacon, Royal Engineers, for the Deputy-Director of Fortification and Works (Aviation), the water department of the Corporation of Nottingham fixed a meter on 1st March, 1918, for a supply of water to the Hucknall Aerodrome, that the water was not required until 6th May, 1918, that the War Office has refused to sign the usual agreement and declined to pay for the water used, and that there is an amount now owing to the Nottingham Corporation of £456; and will he now arrange to put the matter in order?
§ Mr. PRATTThe War Office are not concerned in the proposed agreement, which is between the corporation and the Air Ministry. The Air Ministry have not refused to sign an agreement nor declined to pay for the water used. They are at present negotiating with the corporation regarding the price to be charged, as the rate proposed by the corporation was in excess of the statutory scale in force at the time. As soon as the rate is agreed upon, settlement will be made.
§ Mr. ATKEYCan the right hon. Gentleman give the grounds for his statement that a charge was made in excess of the scale? I have the authority of the chairman of the committee to say that it was not so.