§ Mr. HOGGEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether, although there were some thirty-five different officials in the Ministry of Munitions making contracts, many of these contracts were loosely worded and actually omitted to mention any price or rate for the articles ordered or the total quantity required, merely stipulating for a given quantity to be delivered per week 1465W or per month, and contained no break clause; whether, in consequence, large claims have been and are still being paid every week to contractors who have made no deliveries under their contracts and to others who have failed to deliver the specified quantities per week or month; and whether, in cases where there is obviously no legal liability under the contract, claims are being paid as hardship cases?
Mr. HOPEI cannot admit that there has been looseness in the drafting of contracts by the Ministry of Munitions. In a certain number of cases orders were given to firms to proceed with immediate manufacture, and the prices were agreed later when the costs had been ascertained by special branches of the Ministry. No weekly payments are being made to contractors who have failed to make delivery, or in respect of short delivery. Claims are, however, being met after full investigation in respect of expenditure incurred by contractors on contracts rendered unnecessary by the Armistice; and cases of substantial hardship where there is no legal liability on the Ministry are dealt with by a special committee set up for the purpose by the Treasury.
§ Mr. HOGGEasked the Parliamentary I Secretary to the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that a contractor sent in a claim for over £30,000 to the Ministry of Munitions on a contract that was made in June, 1918, cancelled in November of the same year, in which no rate was specified and against which nothing was de-livered; why, after the claim was passed by the Ministry, the payment was stopped by the Treasury on a certain discovery having been made by a Ministry official; and whether this official, as a reward for his efforts, has been brought under de-mobilisation?
Mr. HOPEI have been unable to trace any such case as that referred to, but if my lion. Friend will furnish me with definite particulars, I will cause inquiries to be made.