§ 53. Mr. SIMMONDSasked the Undersecretary of State for Air the number of members of the Committee on Civil Aviation under the chairmanship of Lord Gorell who are directors of companies in receipt of Air Ministry contracts; and the total value of the contracts received by each of such companies during the current financial year?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)As regards the first part of the question, the committee, including the chairman, consists 866 of seven members, of whom, according to my information, two are directors of companies holding Air Ministry contracts. One of these latter was nominated by the Society of British Aircraft Constructors; the other is a Member of this House. As regards the second part of the question, it would be contrary to established practice to disclose the value of the contracts placed with individual firms.
§ Mr. SIMMONDSWill my right hon. Friend agree that these contracts are in both cases quite considerable?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI am afraid that I cannot answer that question, as I was asked for figures and not for a personal opinion.