§ 75. Sir R. COOPERasked the Parliamentary Secretary if he will state the name of the contractor and the nature of the contract, approximating £4,000,000 in value, referred to in the last Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General, where a contract had been reported by the financial authorities of the Ministry of Munitions to carry an excessive price; on whose decision did the Ministry decide to waive its statutory powers to investigate the books in favour of placing the contract at fixed prices, which were known to be excessive; and what action he proposes to take to protect the interest of the taxpayer?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General is now before the Public Accounts Committee. Until that Committee reports no statement can be made on the particular cases cited in the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report.