§ 4. Mr. RAMSDENasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the value of all foreign goods purchased by 2016 or on behalf of the different Departments that he administers; and also what percentage this is of the total purchases?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir William Joynson-Hicks)As the answer is rather long I will circulate it with the hon. Member's permission in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ It would be impossible to give accurate figures, but the following are rough estimates for the year ending 31st March, 1927. The Metropolitan Police purchased foreign goods to the value of £8,500, but this figure includes £7,000 or petrol and paraffin. The other purchases were made from abroad because British articles of the quality and design required were not available. The former figure represents about 4¼ per cent. of the total expenditure on supplies.
§ The Prison Department bought no foreign manufactured goods. Tenders for materials for manufacture and foodstuffs require the country of origin to be specified and preference is given wherever possible to Imperial produce. But considerations of economy make it necessary to accept certain foreign produce. The exact value of the produce cannot be given, but foreign bacon to the value of about £2,780 was purchased. Broadmoor Asylum purchased foreign goods, almost entirely provisions, to the value of £2,617 which represents about 10 per cent. of the total purchases. No foreign goods were purchased by the Government Wool Disinfecting Station.