§ 29. Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Supply what orders have been placed with Scottish Aviation, Limited, as a result of the rearmament drive approved by His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussIt would be contrary to established practice to give information about armament orders placed with particular firms.
§ Sir T. MooreThat means nothing. Why do the Government and the Minister treat this company like a pariah amongst aircraft manufacturing units, since they have the facilities, the skill and the craftsmanship 2472 to turn out the equal of the best? Why does the Minister do this kind of thing?
§ Mr. StraussThis company is treated in the same way as any other company.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIn view of the order which the Minister has given for prefabricated plumbing units to the Scottish Aviation Company, will he give some advance orders for the 300,000 houses that are contemplated?
§ Mr. StraussI have not said anything to suggest that this firm has not received, or is not likely to receive, orders.
Mr. Leslie HaleIs my right hon. Friend aware—if the Order Paper is to be used for these ebullitions of local patriotism—that the firm of A. V. Roe, of Chadderton, is larger, better equipped and more adequately staffed than Scottish Aviation, Ltd., and that Lancashire has more people, more brains and more money than Scotland?
§ Sir T. MooreOn a point of order. Must a Member be criticised for trying to ask questions on behalf of his constituents?
§ 31. Mr. A. R. W. Lowasked the Minister of Supply the total value of defence orders placed with industry and Royal Ordnance factories by him in furtherance of the Government's additional Defence programme announced in August; and if he will give separate figures for each of the three Services.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussThe value of defence orders actually placed and under active negotiation by my Department up to 14th October, 1950, under the recent Defence programmes announced in July and August amounts to nearly £66 million. It would not be in the national interest to disclose the value of the orders placed for each of the three Services.
§ Mr. LowIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that he is getting on fast enough with the placing of these orders, in view of the importance of speed, which has been stressed quite recently to us by the Minister of Defence? Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there is no unnecessary delay?
§ Mr. StraussYes, Sir, I think that the whole thing is moving rapidly.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonCan my right hon. Friend say whether it is due to the Defence programme that there is a growing delay in supplying steel to civilian industry?
§ Major Legge-BourkeWill the Minister bear in mind the number of industries who are holding open their capacity awaiting orders from his Ministry? They have been waiting for them a long time. Will the right hon. Gentleman please speed them up?
§ Mr. StraussI am not aware of that. We have informed industry that if they have any orders, or prospect of orders, for export they should take those orders and not wait for any possible armament orders.