§ 70. Colonel ENGLANDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is aware that, in connection with tenders for the supply of steel goods for the Siamese State Railways, the lowest British tender was nearly 100 per cent, above the German and 50 per cent, above the Belgian; and whether his Department is in possession of any information throwing light on the reasons for this disparity in quotations?
Mr. SAMUELI am aware that a number of orders comprising steel materials has been placed during the last few months by the Siamese State Railways in countries other than the United Kingdom, and that the prices quoted by British firms have been considerably higher than those of their foreign competitors. I have no special information as to the reasons for the disparity in these cases.