§ 25. Mr. DINGLE FOOTasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has considered the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on Appendix V of the Air Services Appropriation Account, 1931, stating that in 1928 the Ministry approved the provision at Mount Batten, Plymouth, of a lighter for the bulk storage of petrol for flying boats and marine craft; that the lighter was purchased and adapted at a total cost of over £8,000; that in 1929 the Ministry further approved the provision of. storage tanks ashore for both aviation and motor transport spirit; that under this scheme one tank was provided at an expenditure of £408; that the lighter has not been used since its delivery at Mount Batten; that the flying-boat station has instead been drawing its supplies from a local oil company; and whether he will say for what reasons the two overlapping schemes were approved and state the precise cost of the lighter and its subsequent history?
§ Sir P. SASSOONAs the hon. Member is doubtless aware, it is the time-honoured practice of the House to entrust to the Public Accounts Committee the examination in the first instance of the various Appropriation Accounts. My Noble Friend takes the view, therefore, that it would not be in accord with constitutional custom to answer in detail the several points raised in this question in advance of consideration by the Public Accounts Committee. He feels it, however, necessary to point out that the preliminary account of the matter at issue, contained in the Air Services Appropriation Account for 1931, is both incomplete and, in his judgment, definitely misleading in certain material respects.