asked the Minister of Supply whether, in view of the unusual position of the Nuffield Mechanisation Company, who act both as agents for, and manufacturers of the Bofors gun, he will consider publishing the amount paid to them as agents and the basis of payment made to them as manufacturers?

The position of Mechanisation and Aero, Limited, in relation to my Department is not unusual. Under the agreement with the firm, the Department pays the actual costs of production. In addition, the firm are paid a management fee for acting as the Department's agent for the specific purpose of producing Bofors guns. As I informed the hon. Member on 20th March last, it would be contrary to established practice to state the fee paid to the firm.