§ MR. FIELDI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will explain why the Local Government Board objects to boards of guardians specifying that tenders for only Irish manufactured pharmaceutical preparations will be received.
§ MR. WYNDHAMSome boards of guardians in Ireland, when recently advertising for the annual supplies of medicines for the sick poor, stipulated that only tenders for Irish manufactured pharmaceutical preparations would be received. This action appears to have been suggested by a Dublin firm of manufacturers. Such a proposal, if adopted, would restrict free and open 1357 competition by excluding English and Scotch firms from tendering for these goods, and is not one of which the Local Government Board, in the interests of the taxpayers at large, could approve. The hon. Member is doubtless aware that one-half the cost of drugs and medicines is recouped to local authorities out of moneys provided by the State.