HC Deb 19 November 1951 vol 494 cc9-10
19. Brigadier Terence Clarke

asked the Minister of Supply the value of the rearmament orders placed by his Department each month for the last 12 months.

Mr. Sandys

During the 12 months up to the end of September the total value of the re-armament contracts placed by the Ministry of Supply was approximately £1,000 million. To quote figures for individual months would be misleading, since they often include substantial adjustments to earlier contracts.

Brigadier Clarke

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that this is a mere drop in the ocean compared with the figures announced by the Socialist Party for the re-armament programme?

Mr. Sandys

I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the placing of contracts is not one of the main limiting factors in the progress of the re-armament programme.

Mr. E. Shinwell

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree with his hon. and gallant Friend that the placing of orders to the value of £1,000 million is a drop in the ocean?

Mr. Sandys

It is quite a big drop.

Mr. Gerald Nabarro

Can my right hon. Friend say to what extent the figure he has stated will be influenced by the decision reached last week to increase the wages of all engineering workers by 11s. a week?

Mr. Sandys

I do not see how that fact can possibly influence this figure, which represents the amount of contracts placed during the past 12 months.