§ 36. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that some Government Departments are still buying foreign-made goods; and whether he will insist that in future all Departments will obtain from all firms tendering a declaration that the goods are actually made in this country from British material?
Mr. GUINNESSGovernment Departments make contracts within the limit of their own authority, without reference to the Treasury, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the cases on which his question is based I will have inquiry made. There is, of course, considerable difficulty in practice in securing that manufactured products purchased from British firms in this country con- 611 tain nothing but British material, but I have no reason to doubt that Departments, in placing contracts, use every endeavour to secure the maximum of employment in this country.