§ 12. Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will 1172 consider the desirability of a percentage preference being given to all persons who tender for Government contracts, and who undertake to use British Empire materials and employ British Empire labour; whether his Department will use its influence with public bodies to make similar concessions subject to the same conditions; and whether he is aware that the London County Council already gives a 10 per cent, preference on contracts where British material and British labour are employed?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe Board of Trade is not a contracting Department. But I have no doubt that the contracting Departments and public bodies recognise the desirability and importance of giving preference wherever practicable to contractors who undertake to employ British labour and British materials. With regard to the last part of the question, I am not aware that the London County Council has made any general rule of the kind mentioned.