§ 85. Mr. SHORTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he can state the total amount contributed, since the Armistice, by his Department towards; the extensions of certain large steel and other works; whether such contributions are due to the absence of a break clause in the contracts; 1441 if so, whether he will state the names of the firms receiving benefit and to what extent in each case?
Mr. HOPEUntil a final settlement has been arrived at with the Inland Revenue authorities for depreciation and allowances for redundancy in each case, it is impossible to state the total liability of the Ministry of Munitions on account of guaranteed contributions to contractors towards capital expenditure undertaken at the instance of the Government. These contributions have nothing to do with the absence of a break clause in the contracts.