§ MR. HOULT (Cheshire, Wirrall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if his Department is supporting the competition of the German subsidised Hansa Steamship Line with British steamers from the east coast of England; and if he will explain why the freightage of 10,000 tons of stores for Bombay was given to this German line last week, although the British lines tendered at 8s. a ton.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)The India Office is not supporting the Hansa Line of steamers in its competition with British liners. No stores whatever have been shipped from England by that Department in German steamers.