HC Deb 10 July 1918 vol 108 cc315-7
44 and 52. Captain BARNETT

asked the First Commissioner of Works (1) whether the Stationery Office has recently undertaken the supply of machine-gun targets and landscape targets for the Army; whether these targets were previously made by British firms; and whether the contracts for them have now been placed by the Stationery Office with Messrs. Weiner and Company, a naturalised Austrian firm; (2) whether a recent order for landscape targets was placed by the Stationery Office with Messrs. Weiner and Company without competition; if so, for what reason; whether the landscape targets were required in sets of five pictures; and, if so, will he say why the British firm which had previously supplied them and had the necessary plates for their production was not invited to tender?

Mr. BALDWIN (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury)

The Stationery Office have recently undertaken the supply of machine-gun and landscape targets. Some of the former were previously supplied by a British firm. The landscape targets were five in number, and I have no knowledge as to what firm previously printed them. All the firms on the Stationery Office list were invited to tender, and only five replies were received. The orders were placed with Messrs. Weiner and Company and another firm after competition, and were so placed on the grounds of price, quick delivery, and quality of work.

Captain BARNETT

Will my hon. Friend ascertain the name of the British firm which previously supplied these landscape targets and owned the lithographic plates required for their production; and will he also inquire why that firm was not even asked to tender?

Sir E. CARSON

May I ask my hon. Friend are Weiner and Company a naturalised Austrian firm?

Mr. BALDWIN

In reply to my right hon. Friend, the firm of Weiner and Company are a naturalised Austrian firm. In reply to my hon. and gallant Friend, I do not know the name of the firm about which he puts the question, but I understand that the Stationery Office were asked by the War Office previously as to a supply of these targets, and the Stationery Office supplied a list of firms.

Sir E. CARSON

Is it not possible to get a British firm to do the work?

Mr. BALDWIN

When the House of Commons lays it down that no work is to be given to any firm whose members are of enemy alien birth, then, of course, such firms will be struck off the list.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Is not this the natural result of relying on a list of firms instead of offering by open tender?