§ Mr. PAGETasked the First Lord if he will state from what country or countries supplies are obtained of the carbons required for search lights and other electric lights in the Navy and naval dockyards; if such supplies come from abroad, whether tenders for them were invited from British firms; and, if so invited, on what grounds they were rejected.
§ Mr. McKENNAThe carbons are obtained from manufacturers in England. It has sometimes been necessary to obtain from foreign makers small quantities required for certain special lamps, for which British manufacturers had not yet succeeded in producing entirely suitable carbons, but this is not expected to be necessary in future. In any such case it has been customary to invite tenders from the British agents of the foreign manufacturers. No tender for British-made carbons has been rejected where suitable quality was obtainable.