§ 24. Colonel Burtonasked the Secretary of State for Air the position with regard to the three contracts entered into between the Air Ministry and Messrs. E.D. Winn and Company, between December, 1936, and February, 1937, amounting to £837,000; whether inquiries were made as to this firm's financial ability to carry out the contracts; and whether deliveries and execution of the work have in any way been delayed through the failure of this firm?
Captain BalfourWork on the three contracts has been suspended since the order was made for the compulsory winding-up of the firm in question, but arrangements are in hand which I hope will enable work to be re-started almost immediately. Before the contracts were placed, the usual inquiries were made as to the firm's financial position.