§ 12. Sir Irving Alberyasked the Minister of Aircraft Production, with reference to the purchase of the shares of Short Brothers, the amount owed by the company to its bankers and the amount owing to the Treasury on account of taxation at the end of the company's year, ended August, 1942?
§ The Minister of Aircraft Production (Sir Stafford Cripps)The accounts of the company for the year ended 31st August, 1942, have not yet been completed. I cannot therefore give the actual figures. I may say, however, that the amount of the bank advance is very considerable, as with many concerns engaged in war production, and the amount owing to the Inland Revenue relatively small.