§ 16. Mr. RAMSDENasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the contract for 34,000 metres of khaki drill, referred to in the Board of Trade Journal (ref. A.X., 6,143) for 1st April, 1928, has been placed with a British firm; and whether any contracts for textile goods required by the Belgian Government have been placed in this country during the last five years?
§ Mr. DOUGLAS HACKING (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. RAMSDENIs my hon. Friend aware that the announcement of such tenders in the "Board of Trade Journal" induces British manufacturers to tender for them, very often at great cost, when as a matter of fact they have no opportunity of getting the contract?
§ Mr. HACKINGNo, Sir. It is better to place the responsibility of producing a tender on the British manufacturer than that we should hold up all the particulars and specifications.
§ Mr. RAMSDENIs my hon. Friend aware that the Belgian Government does not place any such contract in a foreign country?
§ Mr. HACKINGNo, I am not aware that the Belgian Government never places a contract in a foreign country.