§ * SIR ALFRED HICKMAN (Wolverhampton, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Indian Government have given the order for the Goktiek Viaduct, containing 5,000 tons of steel, to an American firm; will he explain why the chief English bridge builders were not asked to tender for it; and, whether he will give instructions in future that tenders shall be invited from the chief British makers.
§ LORD G. HAMILTONMy honourable friend has evidently been misinformed about this matter. The order for the Goktiek Viaduct was not given by the Government of India, who have nothing to do with it, but by the Burma Railways Company. The company invited five English firms and two American firms to tender. Of the five English firms four refused to tender; but one English firm which had not been invited asked leave to tender, and was allowed to do so. Consequently two English and two American tenders were sent in. The most favourable English tender required three years for the work, at a cost of about, £116,000. The most favourable American tender required about one year for the completion of the work, at a cost of £60,125. In these circumstances the company, with the concurrence of the Government director (who represents the 157 Secretary of, State) accepted the American tender. The Indian railway companies give preference in all these contracts to British makes, but I am sorry to say that this is not the first contract in which there has been a marked difference both in price and time of delivery between British and American tenders.