§ 83. Mr. Stokesasked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been called to the waste and extravagance now going on in the construction of a north western Government factory to which his attention has been drawn, and what steps he proposes to take to put an end to what has already become elsewhere a scandal?
§ Colonel LlewellinI am unable to accept the allegations made by the hon. Member, but if he would care to furnish me with full particulars of any waste and extravagance in connection with the construction of the factory referred to, I will have the matter investigated.
§ Mr. StokesWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman assure this House that the ridiculous system employed by the War Office in the construction of Militia camps, payment of a fee, plus cost, plus extra fee, will not be continued in connection with the 37 or 50 factories, or whatever it is, which the Ministry of Supply contemplate constructing?
§ Colonel LlewellinWe are bound to go upon that basis where the factory is needed very quickly and the full design is not ready when the order is given to start. Only in exceptional cases are we adopting the method to which the hon. Member referred, and which I appreciate has some grave disadvantages, but we must complete some of these factories with the utmost speed.
§ Mr. StokesWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman assure us that far greater supervision and control, especially with regard to cost are exercised by the Ministry of Supply than have been exercised by the War Office?
§ Colonel LlewellinAll I can say on that is that we are seeing that effective control is exercised wherever we put that system into force.