§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that the Select Committee on National Expenditure stated in their tenth Report that the Technical Costing Branch of the Ministry of Munitions should be permanently adopted by the Government; what savings have been effected by the work of this section of his Department since its inception in 1915, and the cost of running this section; and whether it is the intention of the Government to extend this method of dealing with prices of all stores, considering the success which has been obtained?
Mr. HOPEI have seen the Report referred to. The saving effected by the adoption of improved costing methods in the Ministry of Munitions is not less than £300,000,000. A substantial portion of this sum is attributable to the efforts of the Technical Costs Section, of which the total expense has been £75,000; but credit is equally due to other sections of the Finance and Supply Departments. The answer to the last part of the question depends on the powers and conditions attaching to any future Ministry of Supply that Parliament may decide to establish.