§ MR. J. REDMOND (Waterford)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, if he will name the 14 tricycle makers who have been asked to tender for Post Office 1326 tricycles; whether any Irish firms are included; and whether he is aware that Messrs. Pierce and Co., of Wexford, have large tricycle works in Wexford capable of turning out 150 high-grade machines per week; and whether they will be invited to tender?
§ MR. HANBURYIt would be unusual to publish the names of the firms who were recently invited to tender for bicycles. No tricycles were ordered. It does not appear that any Irish firm was included. A note will be taken of the name of the firm mentioned by the honourable Member, and the questions of inviting the firm to tender, and of enlarging any future competition, will be carefully considered.
§ MR. J. REDMONDMy point is whether, in a matter of this kind, the Post Office intend to limit the tenders to a small number of firms, instead of throwing them open to all; do they intend to make any invidious distinction by only inviting English firms to tender?
§ MR. HANBURYI am not sure I can answer that without notice.
§ MR. J. REDMONDI will repeat the Question in a few days.