HC Deb 20 May 1942 vol 380 cc233-4
55. Sir Reginald Clarry

asked the Minister of Supply whether the decision to use a firm of drilling-machine manufacturers to produce certain bobbing machines of foreign design was made on the recommendation of the Machine Tool Production Committee; and how many of the four members of this committee are directors associated with the firm of drilling-machine manufacturers involved?

63. Mr. Stokes

asked the Minister of Supply whether the choice of a certain firm for the manufacture of a certain bobbing machine of foreign design was approved by the agent for the sale of this tool in this country?

The Minister of Supply (Sir Andrew Duncan)

The selection of a manufacturer to produce in this country a bobbing machine of a size not previously built here was made by the Machine Tool Control, and was subsequently confirmed by the Machine Tool Production Advisory Board. One member of this board is a director of the company selected. An agent for the sale of an existing machine questioned the wisdom of the decision taken, but I am satisfied that the arrangements made are in the best interests of production.

Sir R. Clarry

Is the Minister quite satisfied that there is no indication of jobbery in this matter?

Sir A. Duncan

I am quite satisfied, Sir.

Mr. Stokes

Did not the agent for this particular type of machine tool recommend that its construction should be done by an experienced firm who have done similar machine tools before; did not the Advisory Board go against that advice and place the machine tool with a firm which had had no experience of that type of machine; and was not one of its members a director of the firm?

Sir A. Duncan

It is not true to say that the firm first mentioned by the hon. Gentleman had made precisely that type of machine before. The machine is of quite a different size. It may have the same name, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, there is a marked difference in machines, according to size. I am satisfied, after the fullest investigation, that this was a wise decision to take, in the interests of production.

Mr. Hopkinson

Are we to take it from the Minister's original reply that it is now his definite policy to break through this machine-tool monopoly, and that this is the first fruits of that policy?