§ Mr. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State has made any modifications in the system of purchase of stores for the Indian Army, whereby preference will be given by the purchasing officers in all cases to articles manufactured in India from Indian material, and to articles manufactured in India from imported material, rather than to articles manufactured in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe revised rules for the purchase of stores which have been sanctioned by the Secretary of State provide for the purchase in India by preference of articles which are either produced or manufactured there, but subject to the condition that quality is satisfactory and the price not too unfavourable as compared with the cost of similar articles purchased in England. Purchases in India for the Indian Army have been made for many years.