§ SIR A. HICKMAN (Wolverhampton, W.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that a specification has lately been sent out for certain bicycles required for the Army, stipulating that practically all the component parts shall be made by a particular firm; whether he is aware that all the first-class makers themselves manufacture the component parts of their machines; and whether, in any future requirements, he will give makers a free hand to supply the best possible machines at the lowest possible price without the restrictions referred to?
MR. POWELL WILLIAMSAbout 100 bicycles have been ordered for experimental purposes, and the specification adopted required that certain of the components should be those of a particular firm. When the result of the experiments are known, and the pattern is finally decided upon, competition will be thrown open to the bicycle trade generally, in the event of a large order being given out.
§ SIR A. HICKMANAnd then will all the component parts be supplied by one firm?