§ MR. HUNT (Shropshire, Ludlow)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, what are the articles ordered by the Admiralty for the British Navy in the case of contracts executed for the Works Department for which the contractors are not bound to use British materials; whether contractors for other things, other than those executed for the Works Department, are allowed to sub-let their contracts; and, if so, what conditions are made to prevent the sub-contractors from using anything except British material manufactured by British workmen.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONIn the case of Works Department contracts, that is for building materials, it has long been the practice to specify the standard of quality only without reference to the place of origin or manufacture. Contracts may not be sublet without Admiralty sanction, which is only given in exceptional cases. In largo contracts for machinery, etc., specialities may be obtained from sub-contractors subject to the Admiralty approval in each case. All work is done under Admiralty inspection, and the same conditions apply to the subcontractor as to the main contractor. There is no restriction on the source of the material used, which must be the best obtainable.