§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any rule in the Foreign Office precluding the department from affording contractors an opportunity of revising their tenders, and whether such rule is as invariably observed as it was in the recent case of the British and American firms who tendered for the erection of bridges for the Uganda Railway.
§ VISCOUNT CRANBORNEI stated yesterday what the practice in respect of asking firms to revise their tenders has hitherto been. We do not think it possible to depart from this practice as a general rule. Whether this rule should invariably be observed is a matter for consideration. I need not say that the Government would be very glad if they were able to place their work with British firms with due regard to economy and rapidity of delivery.
§ MR. CREMERThen there is no such rule in connection with the Foreign Office?
§ VISCOUNT CRANBORNEPractically not.