HC Deb 30 July 1941 vol 373 c1399
51. Mr. Stokes

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply why the advisory panel on second-hand machine tool purchases, set up by his Department, has not been consulted by the controller since 31st October, 1940?

Mr. Harold Macmillan

This panel advises not only on second-hand tool purchases, but on all questions affecting the supply and distribution of second-hand machine tools. The last meeting was held on Thursday, 24th July, 1941; the previous meeting was held on 31st October, 1940. No meeting was held in the interval, because there were no matters upon which the Controller-General of Machine Tools desired to consult the panel, nor had any requests for a meeting been received by the Controller-General from any member of the panel.

Mr. Stokes

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is extreme dissatisfaction because the panel is not called there more frequently?

Mr. Macmillan

I am not aware of that. No requests have been received from any member of the panel.