MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the Government in the case of all Government contracts to conform to the Resolution thereupon which was unanimously adopted by the House of Commons upon 13th February, 1891; and whether it is the case that hitherto the conditions imposed by that Resolution have been enforced only upon contractors whose work is executed within the United Kingdom, while their foreign competitors have been exempted from its operation?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThe Government have conformed, and will conform, to the general spirit of the Resolution referred to. But I need hardly repeat what I said the other day—that the Resolution has no relation whatever to the purchase by the Government of goods manufactured abroad.
MR. JAMES LOWTHERWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the second paragraph of the question?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI am not aware that there has been any contract made for goods abroad. The question the other day had reference to goods purchased in England which had been manufactured abroad.
MR. JAMES LOWTHERI was not referring to that question. I want an answer in general terms to the second paragraph of the question.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI really have no knowledge of the practice with reference to contracts made abroad.
MR. T. M. HEALYMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the late Government declined to cease supplying Swedish matches to this House?
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I wish to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state to what the Resolution refers if not to articles purchased by the Government manufactured abroad?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTTo something entirely different.
§ COLONEL HOWARD VINCENTTo what then?
§ [No answer was given.]