Hospital Glassware

HC Deb 23 March 1950 vol 472 cc2138-40

24. Mr. John Grimston

asked the Minister of Health what was the landed duty paid value of hospital glassware imported for his Department from Germany; the rate of duty paid; and the saving made compared with the prices for the same ware made at home

26. Sir H. Williams

asked the Minister of Health in respect of what categories of glassware his Department have had difficulty in obtaining satisfactory tenders from British manufacturers

29. Mr. Keeling

asked the Minister of Health for what kinds of glassware for hospitals British manufacturers have tendered; for what kinds no tenders were received; and the approximate value of the annual requirements in each category

Mr. Bevan

I understand that the agreements between manufacturers and distributors of furnace-blown and pressed laboratory glass preclude manufacturers from tendering for Government bulk requirements of beakers, flasks and heavy chemical glassware. The total hospital needs are estimated at £15,000 a year, of which only one-third can be obtained under direct contracts with manufacturers. The landed duty paid value of glassware recently imported from Germany was £2,765, the rate of duty paid being 33 per cent. This purchase represents a saving varying between 10 per cent. and 30 per cent. compared with prices for the same sizes and types of British glassware.

Mr. Grimston

Is the Minister aware that this is a trifling saving but that, nevertheless, there is a dollar component in these purchases and that if this glassware had been purchased at home he would have saved that number of dollars?

Mr. Bevan

No; I think the hon. Gentleman is inaccurate in this matter. The reason why we went to Germany was because of an arrangement made between retailers and manufacturers of these articles by which retailers alone were allowed to tender, and that is the reason why this saving has been made. I have, however, now asked British manufacturers to tender again, and I hope that their conduct in future will be better than it has been in the past.

Mr. Keeling

Is the Minister aware that his statement, on 14th March, that retailers had been asked to tender, was wrong? They were not asked. Is he aware that, by his own showing, he was also wrong in saying that there was a large saving by buying in Germany? Is he further aware that, by buying in Germany, he went against the advice of a Government Committee which said that this laboratory glassware was a key industry which should be maintained in this country at all hazards?

Mr. Bevan

If we saved from 10 to 30 per cent. after paying 33⅓ per cent. duty on glassware surely an excessive price was being charged to British users. If this industry is necessary, as it is, for the welfare of Great Britain, that situation ought not to be exploited by the industry itself.

Mr. Emrys Roberts

Will the Minister refer this arrangement between the glass manufacturers and the retailers to the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission?

Mr. Bevan

I am considering it, but I hope that the steps I have already taken will improve their conduct.

Captain Crookshank

Will the Minister drop the use of the term "percentage" and say how much money was saved?

Mr. Bevan

No; I am not prepared to give manufacturers at this stage, when we are still asking for tenders, the precise information.

Captain Crookshank

Would it be about £3,000?

Mr. Bevan

No, it may be a lot more, but I am not prepared, when we are buying this material, to give tenderers information to enable them to fix prices.

Mr. Grimston

Is there not, in fact, a dollar component in these purchases, and would not the Minister have saved a number of dollars if he had bought these wares in this country?

Mr. Bevan

If the hon. Gentleman would give me information as to what is the dollar content I will try to have it inquired into.

Mr. Grimston

Ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Later

Sir H. Williams

On a point of Order. Question No. 26 was not called.

Mr. Speaker

Questions Nos. 24, 26 and 29 were answered together. I was looking at the hon. Member, thinking that he might ask a supplementary question, but he did not rise.

Sir H. Williams

The Question was not answered at all. I asked the Minister of Health: in respect of what categories of glassware his Department have had difficulty in obtaining satisfactory tenders from British manufacturers.

Mr. Speaker

We have passed that Question. The hon. Member cannot ask it again.