§ 69. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he will ascertain and state the reasons why British locomotive makers recently quoted to the Indian stores department prices 20 per cent. higher than those quoted by Hungarian and Berlin makers, with the result that Indian orders for 132 boilers and 66 cylinders were secured by Hungarian and Berlin firms?
§ Mr. GILLETTMy attention has been directed to the case referred to. The detailed information before me is confidential, and I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by pursuing the investigation further.
§ Mr. SAMUELIs not the Minister aware that time after time we are losing these orders and has not the occasion arisen when an analysis of the causes of our losing these orders might be made, so that we might consider how we could get over the price difficulty which seems to stand in the way of our getting the orders?
§ Mr. GILLETTMy answer only refers to this one question. In regard to the general problem, I am in negotiation with the trade concerned not only in this country but in other countries.
§ Mr. SAMUELIs the hon. Member trying to get an analysis of the causes, so that we may discover where the difficulty and weakness lie?
§ Mr. GILLETTI am trying to find out the difficulty as far as I possibly can.