§ 12. Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the tender forms issued by the Indian Store Department contain references to the King's Roll, and that British tenderers are asked for an assurance that their names are on that roll; and will he draw the attention of the High Commissioner of India to the incompatibility of those instructions with the placing of orders for locomotives with Germany?
§ Mr. RICHARDSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, I do not agree that any incompatibility such as is suggested exists. When tenders are approximately equal in price, the practice of the High Commissioner is to give a preference to a firm on the King's Roll over one that is not. But in the case to which the hon. and gallant Member refers the tender of the German firm was 25 per cent. below that of the lowest British tender, and the High Commissioner was, as I explained last week, bound to follow his instructions to purchase in the best market.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYWill the hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the High Commissioner to the great unemployment that exists at present in the iron and steel industries in this country?
§ Mr. RICHARDSThe attention of the High Commissioner has been drawn to that fact.
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEMay we take it that all firms who are invited to tender are on the King's Roll?
§ Mr. RICHARDSI do not think that that follows at all.