§ MR. TANKERVILLE CHAMBERLAYNE (Southampton)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that no Southampton builders knew that tenders were invited for the new Customs launch now building at Dartmouth, although one firm applied for information to the collector; will he state how the fact that tenders were invited was published; and with respect to this particular launch, will he state what other firms tendered for its construction?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) OldhamThe statement in the first paragraph is inaccurate. Twelve firms were invited to tender, and one of them was a Southampton firm. It would be unusual to give the names of unsuccessful tenderers. The tenders were invited by letter to firms recommended by the Admiralty.