§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that many optical instrument makers are working short time and others are drawing State unemployment benefit; whether, in spite of these facts, the India Office has placed two orders for prism binoculars abroad; and to which foreign firms have these orders been given, and for what reasons?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe India Office has placed no orders recently for binoculars, but I am informed by the High Commissioner for India, who, as the hon. Member is aware, deals with such matters under the direct control of the Government of India, that he has recently placed one order for 5,120 prismatic binoculars with the French firm of Huet and Company through their English agents. This order was not placed until it had been ascertained that the instruments were suitable. A large financial saving was involved. 6,000 binoculars had previously been ordered from English makers.