I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."

The Clause requires a contractor to give notice to the Minister when his receipts from armament contract business in an accounting period reach the amount which brings them within the charge. Hon. Members asked earlier whether there were to be returns, or whether forms were to be issued to everybody. This Clause puts the obligation on the contractor to notify the Minister when the £200,000 period has arrived and it puts on the contractor a duty to notify sub-contractors whenever he places armament contracts With them. He has the further duty, on receipt of notice from the Minister, to give particulars of what armament contracts have been carried out by him. The requirements to give information set out in the Clause are considered sufficient to enable the Minister to carry out this function. He has in addition, under Clause 9 of the Ministry of Supply Bill, power to examine all books and to procure information on the cost of those contracts which fall within the range of the wider definition of "articles required for the public service." The provisions in Sub-section (3) of this new Clause are devised to make the administration of this scheme easier both for the Minister and the contractors.