§ MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any instructions have recently been given to alter the form of Admiralty specifications for goods supplied by contractors for the use of the Navy; and, if so, what is the precise nature of such alterations, and whether it is proposed to cancel or alter any provisions hitherto existing in Admiralty specifications that goods supplied by contractors should be of British material or manufacture.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON, Dundee)The Answer is in the negative.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether any change has been made in Admiralty contract specifications as to the use of British materials; and, in such case, what is the reason for the alteration, and how the Fair Wages Clause can be insisted upon if contractors, are free to use articles of Foreign manufacture not produced under the legislative provisions of the British Factory Acts or in accordance with the custom established by British trades unions.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe Answer is in the negative.