§ 40. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence if, in view of the fact that the expenditure on defence greatly exceeds expenditure on the Health Services and that an independent committee under the chairmanship of an economist has been appointed to inquire into the latter services, he will now order an independent inquiry of a similar nature to examine defence expenditure.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there have been 30 several very adverse reports on defence expenditure by the Auditor-General, and does he not think it just as necessary to economise on these items of expenditure as on the Health Services?
§ Mr. BirchI entirely agree that it is necessary to make all possible economies on defence, and we try to do so.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonHas the Parliamentary Secretary investigated the fascinating possibilities of earning large sums of money and thus reducing defence expenditure by the further hiring of troops to film companies for the purpose of making films in Scotland and elsewhere?