HC Deb 05 December 1955 vol 547 cc3-5
5. Mr. Rankin

asked the Minister of Supply what arrangements he makes when granting development contracts to ensure the free interchange of technical information acquired by aircraft manufacturers who are engaged upon projects subsidised either wholly or partly by his Department.

Mr. Erroll

The standard development contract used by the Ministry of Supply includes a clause which binds the contractor to supply copies of all drawings, specifications and manufacturing data necessary for production to any other firm from whom the article under development may be ordered by the Department. Apart from this, we rely on informal arrangements for the interchange of technical information between manufacturers. These arrangements work well. I would remind the hon. Member that payments made for development work do not constitute subsidies.

Mr. Rankin

Are we to assume from the Minister's reply that the Ministry of Supply is a sort of central pool to which all manufacturers contribute their knowledge in regard to new designs, so that that knowledge may be distributed from the Ministry to other producers who may not necessarily possess it?

Mr. Erroll

One might describe the Ministry of Supply as a pool; I prefer to use the phrase "a radiating centre."

Mr. G. R. Strauss

Is the Parliamentary Secretary really satisfied that this exchange of information between various firms dealing with similar projects is working satisfactorily?

Mr. Erroll

Yes, I shall be very glad to give that assurance.

Air Commodore Harvey

While competition is a good thing, is there not considerable room in the aircraft industry for co-operation among the firms with the technical knowledge and "know-how," which can save the taxpayers a lot of money?

Mr. Erroll

Yes, Sir. I hope that my hon. and gallant Friend's firm will give a lead in this respect.

Mr. Wigg

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it in order for the hon. Gentleman to make the grave attack that he has just made upon his hon. and gallant Friend?

Mr. Speaker

There was no attack at all. I do not know what the hon. Gentleman is talking about.

Mr. Rankin

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I gathered from the Minister's reply that there is in operation a pool system through his Department, and that an hon. and gallant Member of this House refuses to co-operate in the arrangement. Is that in order?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman did not say anything of the kind.

Air Commodore Harvey

On a point of order. In view of what the Minister has said, perhaps I may be allowed to say that I have never stopped saying the same thing over and over again. Perhaps the Minister himself will give a lead in this matter.

Mr. Speaker

There is no point of order.

Mr. Wigg

On a point of order. The Minister has just asserted that the firm of Handley Page, of which the hon. and gallant Gentleman is a director, is in receipt of Government contracts and is not being as co-operative as it might be. That is the clear implication of what the Minister said.

Mr. Speaker

There is no point of order. There was no mention of Handley Page. I know nothing whatever about the hon. and gallant Gentleman's contracts.

Later—

Air Commodore Harvey

On a point of order. In view of the Minister's unsatisfactory reply to Question No. 5, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the first available opportunity.