HC Deb 10 March 1926 vol 192 cc2289-90
66. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGE

asked the Secretary of State for Air if, in placing contracts for supplying bread and flour, he will insert a clause that will ensure a proportion of English-grown wheat being used?

The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Samuel Hoare)

The Air Ministry itself places no contracts for bread and flour, practically all the supplies required by the Air Force being drawn under Army contracts, and the reply given yesterday to the similar question addressed by my hon. and gallant Friend to the Secretary of State for War will cover, therefore, this present question.

Mr. BLUNDELL

Are biscuits supplied to the Air Force?

Mr. MACQUISTEN

If any such clause is inserted, will the right hon. Gentleman see that a similar clause is inserted protecting Scotch barley?

67. Mr. HARRISON

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the approximate quantities of imported meat and home-fed meat consumed by the Air Force in this country for the year 1925?

Sir S. HOARE

The approximate total consumption was 2,110 tons, all being imported meat drawn under Army contracts.

Mr. HARRISON

In making these contracts has the right hon. Gentleman a list before him of home price quotations?

Sir S. HOARE

The contracts are all made through the Army Department, and questions on that subject ought to be addressed to the Secretary of State for War.

Sir H. CROFT

In view of the enthusiasm of all sections of the House for the policy of buying British goods, will the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the War Office in order that the flow of wisdom may be purified at the fountain head?

Sir S. HOARE

This Department does everything in its power to secure the largest possible purchase of British and Imperial goods.

69. Mr. RAMSDEN

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will give the percentage value of all the foodstuffs and also of all other stores and materials purchased by his Department during the past financial year, and which were of foreign origin?

Sir S. HOARE

The Air Ministry makes no contracts for foodstuffs, practically all supplies being obtained under Army contracts. As regards other stores and materials, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Hallam (Sir F. Sykes) on 7th December last, when I gave particulars of the value of foreign equipment outstanding on 1st November, 1924, and stated that the policy of the Air Ministry was to rely on British sources of supply. To supplement that answer would involve considerable additional labour, which would hardly be justified. I can assure my hon. Friend that the volume of foreign purchases is almost negligible.

Sir F. WISE

Is this not a matter for a Minister of Defence?

Sir S. HOARE

It is obviously not a question which should be addressed to my Department.

Colonel WOODCOCK

Does it not seem that the Air Force is drifting back to the Army?