§ 16. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated saving by giving the contract to the Argentine for the tinned meat supply of the British Army instead of giving it to firms in the British Empire?
§ Mr. SHAWOn the offers received, it would not have been possible to have met much more than half of the total requirements from Empire sources, and to have done even this would have involved an extra cost of over £7,000.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYOught not the right hon. Gentleman to do his best to encourage Empire produce, instead of giving contracts, as he has done, to the Argentine?
§ Mr. SHAWOver 90 per cent. of the beef purchased by the Army for cooking purposes is purchased from Empire sources, and when an Empire source is prepared to offer the goods we need, made in the way we want them, it will not be a small difference in price which will prevent our buying them; but, when we are asked to pay 50 per cent. more, and when the contract itself does not supply the kind of meat we want, then, obviously, Empire sources cannot be used.
§ Mr. BARRRegarding the original answer, is not this action in keeping with the Royal tour in the Argentine?
Mr. FRANK OWENIs it not a fact that this Argentine beef is really Hereford beef coming back from the Argentine?