§ Mr. Butcherasked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been drawn to the recently declared dividend of the Hawker Siddeley Aircraft Company, Limited, which, after its subsidiaries have provided for contingencies and reserves, has received over £750,000 from them; and whether, in view of the dividends paid by this company during recent years, he will make a special investigation to see that the prices paid by the Government to this company are fair and reasonable?
§ Sir K. WoodThe companies comprising this group are not exclusively engaged on contracts for the Air Ministry, and the total profits are not solely derived from such contracts. The prices paid under Air Ministry contracts are the subject of continuous and detailed investigation, to ensure that they are at all times fair and reasonable.