HC Deb 17 February 1942 vol 377 cc1667-8W
Mr. Thorne

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give any information in connection with the firm of Messrs. Porters, Limited, contractors to the Admiralty, who had wrongfully obtained about £500,000 by fictitious wage sheets prepared in their office, which came before the Liverpool police court on Wednesday last?

Captain Hudson

The firm in question acts almost exclusively as sub-contractor to another firm who, since the outbreak of war, have carried out a considerable amount of work for the Admiralty and the Ministry of War Transport. It is alleged that by falsifying wages records Messrs. F. H. Porter, Ltd., have charged to the main contractors sums considerably in excess of the sums actually expended for their account. In this event a corresponding overcharge will have been

Mr. H. Morrison

The information desired by my hon. Friend is set out in the following table.

made against the Admiralty and Ministry of War Transport. The matter is at present being investigated by both Departments and meanwhile it is not possible to state the total of these discrepancies. The question of the conditions for the execution of any further work is receiving the attention of the two Departments.