§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the lighthouse authorities and the Board of Trade have granted a monopoly for certain lighthouse apparatus to a certain firm; if so, will he explain the nature of that monopoly, stating to what firm it was granted, and on what grounds; whether the apparatus required for the alterations at Howth Bailey was purchased from that firm, and whether apparatus of a similar kind have been ordered from the same firm for other lighthouses.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Board of Trade in 1898 gave their sanction to a contract entered nto by the three lighthouse authorities with Messrs. Chance 588 Brothers and Company, Limited, under which that firm agreed to supply certain forms of optical apparatus at scheduled prices for a term of five years. The reasons given for the contract were that some of the apparatus required could not be supplied by any other firm in the United Kingdom, and that it was important in the interests of the lighthouse service that this special manufacture, for which there is a very limited demand, should not be allowed to die out. The apparatus at Howth Bailey and some other lighthouses have been purchased from the same firm under the contract.
§ In reply to a further Question,
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURsaid this was a Birmingham firm.