§ 39. Mr. Walker-Smithasked the Minister of Supply what is the average cost per sleeper of pre-stressed reinforced concrete sleepers produced in the Royal Ordnance factories; and how such cost compares with the average cost of sleepers produced by private enterprise.
§ The Minister of Supply (Mr. G. R. Strauss)It would prejudice future negotiations between Government departments and contractors to give any of these figures. Moreover, it is contrary to established practice to disclose details of the prices paid by Government departments to outside contractors
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIf I put down a Question asking, not for detailed prices, but for the comparative prices of the sleepers produced in Royal Ordnance factories and those produced by private enterprise, will the Minister then answer that Question?
§ Mr. StraussI should like to see the Question on the Order Paper. I will give the hon. Member as much information as I can.