§ Mr. KILEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if by the investing of State money and the appointments of directors to companies such as the British Cellulose Company, Limited, his Contracts Department will be induced to give preference to the placing of contracts to such firms; and has he any reason to apprehend unwillingness of other competitive firms to tender in opposition to such State-supported firms?
§ Mr. KILEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions the number of contractors to whom the Government have advanced money, as in the case of the British Cellulose and Chemical Manufacturing Company, Limited, for the purpose of ensuring an adequate supply of materials which were vitally necessary for war purposes; and in how many cases the Government have accepted shares in lieu of the security obtained, and in so doing relinquished securities in favour of other or future creditors?
Mr. HOPEThe number of contractors to whom money was advanced for the purpose of the general supply of materials is approximately 350; but there are innumerable other cases where the Ministry advanced various sums for the purpose of financing particular contracts. In no cases other than the British Cellulose Company has the Ministry accepted shares in lieu of other security; but the Government, during the course of the War, have become shareholders in various other companies, such as the British Dye Stuffs Corporation, Ltd., the Anglo-Persian Oil Co., Ltd., and the British Potash Co., Ltd.