HC Deb 14 February 1939 vol 343 cc1546-7
48. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government are taking to bring under some form of Government supervision the manufacturers of aeroplanes and machine guns, to ensure that the profits on capital shall not exceed a reasonable return?

Sir J. Simon

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury gave on 28th July, 1938, to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. E. Smith), of which I am sending him a copy.

Mr. De la Bère

Is my right hon. Friend really satisfied that adequate and sufficient safeguards are at present in operation to check the unnecessarily high profits which are being made?

Sir J. Simon

If my hon. Friend will look at the answer to which I referred, he will see that the matter is there dealt with.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Why is it that aircraft firms are, in fact, making such enormous profits?