§ 35. Sir BASIL PETOasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, why foreign-made wire netting is being used in covering the roofs of the coastguard houses at Croyde, North Devon?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Vivian Henderson)Six rolls of galvanized wire costing 42s. in all have been used at Croyde coastguard station by the contractor carrying out repairs to the roofs of the houses. The contractor understood that the wire was of British manufacture, but I am informed that possibly two rolls, value 14s., may have come from some old stock, which may have been of foreign manufacture.
§ Sir B. PETOHow could the contractor who bought this wire netting think it could be of British manufacture when all the rolls bore a label marked "Foreign made," like that which I hold in my hand?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONI have had a report from the contractor, in which he definitely informs me that there was nothing on the rolls to show that they were not of British manufacture, I presume because the hon. Baronet had taken the labels off!
Mr. ERSKINEIs the hon. Baronet opposite justified in producing these things out of his hat like rabbits?