§ Mr. STORRY DEANS(by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the policy of his Department to contract with manufacturers and not with merchants or agents for the supply of goods for the use of the Army; whether he is aware that the Gillette Company Limited, to whom a contract for safety razors has been given, is not a manufacturing company; that it does not own or work either the factory where the razors are made or the factory where the blades are made; whether he is aware that both these factories are owned by an American company; and what is the reason for departing from the usual practice of the Department in the case of this contract?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)The normal practice of the Department is to place contracts only with manufacturers, 558 but where the manufacturer has a sole selling agent we are perforce obliged to contract with the selling agent if we wish to purchase the goods. The razor-holders are to be made at Slough, and the blades in Canada.
§ Mr. DEANSIs there any reason of State policy why the right hon. Gentleman refuses to answer the last part of my question?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNot at all. The factory at Slough is owned by a British registered company; the factory in Canada is, I believe, owned by a Canadian registered company.
§ Mr. DEANSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that both these companies are merely an American company camouflaged?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNo, Sir. I am informed to the contrary.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the profit on razors is made entirely on the blade, and that Gillette was giving away razors so that people would buy blades made in America?
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the Fair Wages Clause attached to every one of these contracts?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI am pretty sure it is, but I should require notice to answer definitely. It is the practice, and I have no doubt it has been followed in this case.
§ Sir FREDRIC WISEMay I ask how many shareholders there are in this company?
§ Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOX(by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to a letter from the managing director of the Auto-Strop Safety Razor Company which appeared in the "Times" of 18th October; and whether it is a fact that the offer of that company would have provided for Army requirements of safety razors "without a penny of expense to the British Treasury"?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSYes, Sir, my attention has been drawn to the letter. It is, of course, not customary to disclose tenders, but since the letter would give an entirely false impression, 559 I think it right to say that, had the offer been accepted, it would have meant a cash payment of some 60 per cent. in excess of that under the existing contract.
§ Sir A. KNOXWill the right hon. Gentleman state whether that price includes the expense of the strops as well?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI believe it includes some of the strops, but the rest would have had to be paid for extra.
§ Colonel DAYMay I ask whether the Gillette razors are being paid for by the War Office, seeing that they are being given away broadcast in this country?
§ Mr. B. SMITHWith Palm Olive soap!
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWe are not buying the soap with the razors.
§ Colonel DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what the razors are costing?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIt is not customary to give the prices?