§ 35. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Secretary of State for War if there are any private firms doing contract work for his Department who have not fulfilled the conditions of membership of the King's Roll?
§ Mr. WALSHThe practice of the War Office is in accordance with the decision announced in this House on 6th April, 1921, that, "save in very exceptional circumstances, all firms contracting for Government contracts to whom the conditions of membership of the King's Roll are applicable must be on the King's Roll." In a few cases it is necessary to place contracts with firms who have not fulfilled the conditions of membership of the King's Roll, e.g., for proprietary articles or articles which cannot be obtained from enrolled firms.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLECould it not be made a condition on all firms, even those supplying proprietary articles?
§ Mr. STURROCKIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the conditions governing membership of the King's Roll are exceedingly difficult to meet on the part of firms in small towns whose employés are limited, but who are as much entitled as the big firms to join in competition for War Office contracts?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe must not now argue that question.