§ 42. Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the total 1007 amount of contracts placed by his Department during the financial year 1936–37, whether by way of provisional instructions to proceed or otherwise, which did not receive the prior approval of the Secretary of State or the Under-Secretary of State for Air prescribed by normal Air Ministry regulations; and the total amount of such orders and contracts placed during the same period which had neither received the prior approval of the appropriate Minister nor, by the end of the financial year in question, his ex post facto approval?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadThe Air Ministry regulations, as I believe is the normal case with other Government Departments, do not require the prior approval of Ministers for competitive contracts. In cases in which competition is available and has been dispensed with (other than purchases of experimental stores) the rule is that new orders exceeding £500 in value will be approved in writing by the Under-Secretary of State and by the Secretary of State if they exceed £20,000. The total amounts of non-competitive contracts placed by the Air Ministry during the financial year 1936–37, which received the ex post facto approval of the Secretary of State or the Under-Secretary of State in that year were £2,121,000 and £333,000 respectively. Contracts to the value of £378,000 placed towards the end of that financial year did not receive Ministerial approval before 31st March, 1937.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs the hon. and gallant Member aware that his answer appears to be in conflict with that given by his predecessor to me last week, in which it was stated that one contract of the amount of £700,000, although it should have received prior approval of the Secretary of State did not, in fact, receive that prior approval? Can he assure the House that contracts of that magnitude will be submitted to the appropriate Minister before they are passed?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadIf the hon. Member will study the two answers, I think that he will see that there is no conflict between them, and as these matters will come before the Public Accounts Committee in due course, I think they can be trusted to investigate the matter.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs the hon. and gallant Member not aware that we have a duty as well as the Public Accounts Committee, and I want to ask him whether he can assure the House that contracts of the vast amount of 700,000 will not, in fact, be placed without the prior approval of the Minister where that approval is necessary under the regulations of the Air Ministry?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadThere may, of course, be cases where in the public interest speed is necessary, but for the most part obviously the Secretary of State wishes to follow the proper course.
§ Mr. BellengerMay I ask whether any considerable delay is caused by this ex post facto approval?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadI do not think any unnecessary delay has occurred.
§ Mr. BellengerHow soon after is approval given?