HC Deb 27 January 1958 vol 581 cc12-3W
81. Mr. Champion

asked the Minister of Supply why he sanctioned the sale of machine tools by direct private negotiation with individual members of the British Association of Machine Tool Merchants instead of by auction sales.

Mr. Aubrey Jones

The machine tools, or similar ones, had been offered previously by auction or tender and the prices obtainable in direct negotiation were higher.