§ MR. LOUGHOn behalf of the hon. Member for East Northamptonshire, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether the Cawnpore boot factory is carried on wholly as a private industrial undertaking for private profit, or includes among its directors or managers or shareholders British and Indian Military Officials interested in the securing of contracts; and whether this factory has any direct or indirect subsidy or guarantee from the Imperial or Indian Government.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing)The Cawnpore Boot Factory is carried on by a private firm. No British or Indian Military Official is included in the Directorate. As regards managers or shareholders there is no information in this country. The firm receives no direct or indirect subsidy either from the Indian Government or from the Imperial Government, but there is a guarantee that, on certain, terms expressed in the contract, the Government of India will purchase not less than 120,000 pairs of boots per annum for 10 years.