§ The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of SIR WAI.DRON SMITHERS:
§ 73. "To ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production whether, in view of the fact that the company is doing Government work, he will investigate the overhead charges of the British Manufacturing and Research Company, Limited, of Grantham, and the qualifications of certain of its officials?"
§ Sir W. SmithersMay I ask for your guidance, Mr. Speaker? I put this Question down to the Treasury, with the object of getting a Treasury inquiry into 295 this matter, and it has been transferred to the Ministry of Aircraft Production, and I do not think that a Ministry of Aircraft Production inquiry would do much good.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member should await the answer.
§ Sir W. SmithersThen, I will now ask the Question.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production (Colonel Llewellin)Investigation into the overhead costs of this company will be made by the Department's accountants in the normal way in connection with the settlement of prices under contracts with the Department. We are well satisfied with the production of this company, and my Noble Friend does not think it necessary to investigate the qualifications of the company's officials.
§ Sir W. SmithersOwing to the most unsatisfactory nature of the reply—it is exactly the reply I expected—I propose to raise the matter on the Adjournment.