§ MR. HUNT (Shropshire, Ludlow)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that nearly all the tinned meat supplied to the Army and Navy comes from foreign countries, because it can be supplied cheaper than meat grown in Great Britain, Ireland, or the Colonies, he will say whether the same rule applies to the various articles, as well as granite, used for the Navy, such as chains, anchors, furniture, and the many other necessary articles required by the Admiralty.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON, Dundee)The hon. Gentleman will find a full statement of the Admiralty policy in my reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Fareham on 5th March last year. † But, as a matter of fact, I may add that the tinned meat consumed in the Navy is now purchased mainly from Australia and New Zealand.
§ MR. HUNTDoes the Government buy on the principle of buying in the cheapest market for all these things, or does it not?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThat Question is answered in the Reply given by me on 5th March last year.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONsaid the Answer he had given was in accordance with Parliamentary practice.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN (Worcestershire, E.)Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any orders for cable chains and anchors are at the present time placed abroad?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI do not think so, but the right hon. Gentlemen might put the Question on the Paper. [An HON. MEMBER: "It is in the Question."]