§ Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state in detail, with regard to a representative list of the various materials and supplies for naval construction and armaments, in respect of what items he is able to check the prices of private contractors by the cost of manufacturing similar articles in Government establishments, and in respect of what items he has no such means of checking prices?
§ Mr. McKENNAGuns, torpedoes, cordite, and certain transferable mountings are constructed in Government establishments, and in these cases the cost of manufacture does afford a direct check on prices. Armour, non-transferable mountings, propelling machinery other than that of submarines, auxiliary machinery, plates, angle-bars, heavy castings, and other materials required for shipbuilding are obtained exclusively by contract.
1557WBut in the majority of cases the area of supply is sufficiently wide to ensure keen competition.