§ 62. Mr. W. BAKERasked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been called to the sale of ferro-silicon by the Surplus Stores Department at £4 per ton and its repurchase by his Department at £22 and £20 14s. per ton, respectively; and whether he will state the steps he has taken to tighten up the machinery in his Department?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Samuel Hoare)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but as regards the difference of price I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to, the Treasury to the hon. Member for Dundee on the 16th February. As regards the second part, the Public Accounts Committee, who accepted the assurance that the Departmental officers concerned in the transaction were endeavouring to supply the public service in the most economical manner, came to the conclusion that further inquiries should have been made before the ferro-silicon was purchased. Note has been made of this conclusion, and it will be borne in mind in any future similar cases that may arise.
§ Mr. BAKERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his official witness stated that the price secured by the Disposal Board had no relevance to his Department?
§ Sir S. HOAREI cannot keep that in mind off-hand, but if that statement was made, it was certainly accurate. I do not think that any ferro-silicon has been sold by the Disposal Board for a considerable time before.