§ 59. Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the Prime Minister whether, with a view to creating more employment in this country, he will issue an Order to municipal and other public bodies authorised to place contracts, requiring that the lowest suitable British fender shall in all cases be accepted in preference to the lowest suitable foreign tender, provided that such British tender is not more than 10 per cent. higher than the foreign; and that, in cases where the British tender exceeds 10 per cent., the foreign tender shall not be accepted until after reconsideration by the British contractor of the possibility of reducing his tender to 10 per cent. over the foreign?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Ministry of Health issued a Circular on the 15th May last requiring that, in the case of schemes assisted by grants given expressly because of unemployment, all contracts for, or incidental to, the works should be placed in this country, and urged local authorities to adopt the same principle in other cases. I do not think it practicable to take further steps in the manner suggested by the hon. Member.