§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he has succeeded in devising a better form for the annual return "Contracts with Foreigners," so as to inform the House not only what Government contracts have been placed with contractors outside the United Kingdom, but also what articles have been supplied from foreign countries by contractors or their agents resident in the United Kingdom?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY,) PrestonThe present annual return is undoubtedly misleading. In the case of articles purchased abroad through English firms, it has hitherto treated them as being of English origin or manufacture, though really purchased abroad. On the other hand articles purchased direct from abroad have not been included unless they are such as were also manufactured in this country. If any return is given, it ought to be accurate, and it is proposed to show all articles purchased from contractors outside the United Kingdom. In the case of articles obtained from English firms or agents, it would of course be very difficult, and almost impossible to trace the history of every component part, but with that proviso there would be no objection to a return showing all articles not bonâ fide manufactured in this country.