§ Sir P. Hurdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to check the waste of public money upon Government contracts, he will appoint local representatives of the Treasury with power to inspect and report upon causes of complaint?
§ Captain CrookshankThe responsibility for securing the economical execution of Government contracts rests primarily with the contracting Department who, acting on general principles approved by the Treasury, discharge the responsibility partly by securing safeguards against waste in the terms of the contract and partly by supervision and inspection during the progress of the work. The appointment of local representatives of the Treasury would involve duplication and would impair the responsibility of the contracting Department without, in my judgment, securing adequate compensating advantages.