§ Q1. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Prime Minister if he will make new Ministerial appointments to strengthen the supervision of Government-placed contracts and avoid the overpayment to contrac- 232 tors as was revealed in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report in relation to the Bloodhound missile project.
§ The Prime Minister (Sir Alec Douglas-Home)I do not think such appointments would further the object the hon. Member has in mind. The placing of contracts is the duty of individual Departments for which their Ministers are responsible. There is machinery to co-ordinate these activities between Departments.
§ Mr. StonehouseWhile appreciating that there are further investigations now taking place into the Ferranti affair, may I ask the Prime Minister if there is not ample confirmation of the fact that this £2 million overpayment is a scandal of great dimensions and should not action now be taken in regard to the Ministry of Aviation?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Gentleman's Question was directed to the appointment of additional Ministers and that I have turned down. I think that any further improvement of machinery had better wait the report from Sir John Lang.