§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Secretary of State for Air what percentage of contracts for the Air Ministry has been referred to the Technical Costs Branch during the period March, 1921—March, 1922; and what was the saving effected and the total amount of the original quotations on which the savings were effected?
Captain GUESTThree classes of contracts are placed by the Air Ministry, namely, general stores, aeronautical stores, and works services, and by far the greater percentage of them are placed after open competition, which, of itself, affords a sufficient check on prices and makes costing unnecessary.
As regards general stores, quotations, totalling £176,500, or 22 per cent, of the value of all the contracts for such stores placed, were referred for costing in the, financial year 1921–22, and a saving of nearly £29,000, or 16 per cent, of the amount of the quotations was effected. During the financial year 1921–22 it has not been found necessary to refer quotations for aeronautical stores or works to the Costs Branch.