73 and 74. Mr. J. J. Davidsonasked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) the total amount of Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry contracts at present being undertaken by the firm of George Wimpeys and Company, Limited, giving separate figures for Scotland;
(2) the total amount of Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry contracts at present being undertaken by the firm of Mowlems, Limited, giving separate figures for Scotland?
§ Captain CrookshankThe answer is in the negative. It has long been the established practice not to disclose the figures of contracts placed with individual contractors by Government Departments. I do not consider that it would be in the national interest to change the practice in time of war.
Mr. DavidsonIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the figure of £75,000,000 is being commonly quoted in Scotland as being the amount for which Wimpeys and Company, Limited, have contracts, and does he not consider that this tremendous amount of contract work means that the work cannot be speedily or efficiently concluded.
§ Captain CrookshankAs I have said, I cannot give any figures. The hon. Gentleman would not like me to comment on this matter beyond saying that it does sound a very large figure.