§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he can inform the House under what head, in the recent Return "Contracts with Foreigners," appear the 885 proportion of matches supplied to the House of Commons marked "Manufactured in Sweden," but in boxes otherwise scarcely distinguishable from those in which the products of London labour are sold by Bryant & May, Limited; and, further, if the goods supplied by Government contractors in the United Kingdom are examined, with a view of preventing foreign-made articles being introduced into a consignment?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON,) Leeds, N.The matches marked "Manufactured in Sweden" do not appear in the Return referred to by my hon. Friend, because the contract for them is made with an English firm, Messrs. R. S. Mendey, of 106, Fenchurch Street. I understand that they are manufactured by Messrs. Bryant & May, at the "Lion" Factory in Sweden. I apprehend that all goods supplied by contractors are examined to see that they are according to sample or specification.
§ MR. HOWARD VINCENTDoes the specification not require that British goods shall be supplied?
§ MR. JACKSONNo, Sir; I believe not; it merely requires that the matches shall be supplied by the firm.
§ MR. HOWARD VINCENTI beg to give notice that I shall move that they be labelled.