62. Colonel BURNasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the inconvenience and loss caused to manufacturers by the delays in settling Government accounts; whether he is aware that in some cases firms have been ordered to pay Excess Profits Duty on orders before the purchasing Departments of the Government responsible for those orders has settled the accounts; and whether steps will be taken to settle all Government accounts with manufacturers at an early date?
§ Mr. BALDWINRepresentations have been made to me on this subject, and the contracting Departments have been urged to expedite the settlement of accounts with manufacturers.