§ MR. PARKER SMITH (Lanark, Partick)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether it is the fact that there is a regulation of 1201 the Indian Government under which all British manufactures required for Government works, such as the State Railways, require to be purchased through Indian firms only; and, if so, what are the terms of that regulation, and on what grounds officers in charge of public works in India are hindered from purchasing goods direct from the manufacturers in this country, without the necessity of paying commissions to intermediate agents in India?
SIR J. GORSTArticles required for Government works, such as the State Railways, if manufactured in the United Kingdom must not be purchased from Indian firms, but obtained by indent from the Stores Department of the India Office. Supplies of materials, tools, and plant, made of iron and steel, if manufactured locally, may be obtained from India.