CONTRACTS.

HC Deb 09 December 1936 vol 318 cc1990-2

48. Mr. CHORLTON

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence the value of defence contracts placed in Lancashire in the last six months?

Sir T. INSKIP

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies I made to him on 29th July and 11th November. I am still of the opinion that the amount of labour involved in compiling the information he asks for would be incommensurate with the value of the results obtained.

Mr. CHORLTON

Will my right hon. Friend refer to the reply given by the Under-Secretary for Air, in which particulars amounting to £5,000,000 were given for the Birmingham district, and may I ask him why we cannot have this information for Lancashire?

Sir T. INSKIP

I have made inquiries whether the information is available, and I can assure my hon. Friend that it would take a great deal of labour to get out the necessary figures.

Mr. D AG GAR

Does the difficulty arise because of the infinitesimal quantity, and that it is difficult to find it?

Sir T. INSKIP

Not at all. It runs into many millions—tens of millions in all.

Mr. ALEXANDER

Have not the Government already arranged for a munitions factory to be set up in Lancashire?

Sir T. INSKIP

Yes, Sir.

49. Mr. CHORLTON

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence the value of the defence contracts placed abroad during the last six months?

Sir T. INSKIP

As stated in the answer on this subject given to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Bellenger) on 2nd December, orders have been placed abroad by the Defence Departments to the value of about £400,000, including one contract for shell bodies amounting to £63,000. This contract was placed in Canada. Contracts for machine tools amounting to about £456,000 have also been placed abroad in order to expedite manufacture in this country.

50. Mr. CHORLTON

asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence the last occasion upon which he had a meeting with the special committee set up in Lancashire to facilitate the carrying out of defence contracts?

Sir T. INSKIP

I have not so far found it necessary to trouble the committee to see me. They have, as was arranged, furnished much useful information as to facilities in Lancashire for production for Service purposes.

Mr. CHORLTON

Does not my right hon. Friend think it would be a very good thing if he were to pay a visit to Lancashire and interview this committee?

Mr. G. GRIFFITHS

When the right hon. Gentleman is in Lancashire, will he go over the border and see Yorkshire?