§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether a member of the Contract Claims Department of the Ministry of Munitions, acting for the Lubbock Committee of the Treasury, made a recommendation to the Aircraft Finance Department of the Ministry of Munitions to purchase Messrs. Cox and Company's debenture in the Norman Thompson Flight Company and re-vest the control of the company in Mr. Norman Thompson and his co-directors; why the Government gave orders to the receiver after neglecting to do so to the Norman Thompson Company; and whether it is an established custom or rule of the Treasury not to give orders to a receiver?
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As to the second part, it was 937W only after the appointment of a receiver that a decision was reached as to the design of the flying boat in question. The Treasury do not issue any orders in a case of this sort. During the War, however, the Ministry of Munitions sometimes gave orders to a receiver in cases where there was a reasonable prospect of obtaining supplies which were urgently needed.