§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if directions have now been given that foreign pencils are no longer to be supplied to Government offices, and that pencils similar to those now in the Library of the House of Commons are to be substituted.
(Answered by Mr Hayes Fisher.) No such general directions can be given, irrespective of the price and quality of British and foreign pencils; but for some time past all ordinary pencils purchased by the Stationery Office (exclusive of telegraph pencils) have been of British origin. I am informed that coloured chalk pencils of the make and quality required for the public service cannot be obtained from British manufacturers. Similarly, it was necessary during the year 1901–1902 to purchase 725 gross of special drawing pencils of foreign make for the use of engineers, architects, surveyors, and draughtsmen. I desire to add that, for some time past, all black-lead pencils supplied to the House of Commons have been of British make.