§ 43. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for War, in view of the fact that the purchase price of the Bren guns ordered in Canada will be £76 each, and that the profit on the manufacture of the guns will be £53,400, what steps were taken to safeguard the interests of the British taxpayer when the contract was made?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe figures given in the question relate to an order placed by the Canadian Government, not to an order placed by the United Kingdom Government. As regards the latter, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to his question on 21st July.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherCan the right hon. Gentleman give any figures regarding the order for Bren guns for this country placed in Canada to show how they compare with the prices of Bren guns manufactured in this country?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaOn that general question, I understand that there is a question addressed to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer for Thursday next, which involves general policy.
§ Mr. BellengerWhat system will be adopted for checking the cost of these Bren machine guns? Will the same procedure be adopted as is adopted in this country with regard to British manufactures?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaIt is the usual form of contact with the usual safeguard.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherHave steps been taken to ensure that the profit on the Bren guns ordered by the British Government in Canada will be less than the very high profit on Bren guns ordered by the Canadian Government for their own purposes?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI think all these figures are open to the Public Accounts Committee. It is very difficult to enter into details regarding the contracts.