§ MR. STAVELEY HILL (Staffordshire, Kingswinford)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty why the usual custom of inviting tenders from British glass manufacturers, for the supplies of glass ware to the Admiralty, has this year been departed from.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONRevised patterns of table glass—to which it is understood the Question refers—were instituted this year. The firm from whom they were obtained went to a great deal of trouble to assist the Admiralty in the matter, and, in accordance with the usual custom in such cases, the first order was placed with them, their quotation being very reasonable. In future orders the contract will be open to competition.