§ Mr. NEVILLEI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board is taking care in giving out Government orders to manufacturers to spread such orders as far as possible amongst as many firms as possible, rather to give to those contractors who may have been on the Government list before the war orders for such amount of goods that they are working overtime while other firms in the trade who are ready and willing to supply similar goods are likely to be on the point of closing down their works for want of employment?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe responsibility for the placing of Government contracts must rest with the contracting departments, but 20 the Board of Trade are in communication with the Admiralty and War Office on the matter referred to in the question.