§ MR. COURTHOPETo ask the Secretary of State for War whether contractors, who tender for the supply of any articles for the Army, are in any cases limited to articles of British manufacture or production; and, if so, on what grounds the agricultural industry is thereby placed in a less favourable position than other industries.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) Restrictions of a preferential or protective character have been or are being removed from the War Department contracts in accordance with the Free Trade policy of the Government, and no discrimination has been made as regards agricultural industries.