HC Deb 08 October 1940 vol 365 c269W
Mr. J. Morgan

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the finances raised by the various so-called Spitfire funds are actually disposed of; and whether the monies so raised are in any real sense allocated to the construction of aircraft not otherwise provided for in the Air Estimates?

Sir K. Wood

All money raised for Spitfires or other aircraft are paid to the Ministry of Aircraft Production and are credited as Appropriations-in-Aid of the Vote for that Department. They are thus allocated directly to the construction of aircraft in accordance with the wishes of the donors. The cost of the construction of aircraft is in all cases made from the Vote for the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Where the cost is covered by donations, the aircraft concerned have been paid for by the donors and the charge on the Exchequer is correspondingly reduced.