§ MR. JOHN WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in asking for tenders for earthenware and china for use in the Navy, any British earthenware and china manufacturers are requested to tender, or whether tenders are asked only from firms of middlemen who often buy the 1563 rough ware in foreign countries and have it decorated here and sold to the Admiralty as British-made goods.
§ MR. MCKENNAThere is a notice on the form of tenders for earthenware and china that manufacturers only will be accepted, and we have never had any reason in this trade to suppose that contractors have supplied ware other than of their own manufacture.
§ MR. JOHN WARDIs it not the fact that there are no manufacturers on the list, and that only middlemen are invited to tender?
§ MR. MCKENNASo far from that being the case the information given me is that on our list we have no one but manufacturers and no middlemen at all. I shall be happy to inquire as to individual cases if the hon. Member has any information to give.
§ MR. MYER (Lambeth, N.)Is it not the custom of the Admiralty to expend the taxpayers' money to the best advantage by obtaining commodities in the cheapest market?
§ MR. MCKENNAWhen we are asking for manufactured articles we endeavour to get them from the manufacturer himself.
§ * MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)Is it not the fact that the best goods at the lowest prices are got through middlemen?
§ MR. MCKENNAI cannot say that that is the experience of the Admiralty.
§ * MR. LUPTONPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will inquire as to the experience of private firms.