§ 3. Lieut.-Commander ASTBURYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will specify that all wire used in the manufacture of cable for Army purposes shall be of British manufacture?
§ Mr. COOPERIt is the practice to require manufacturers, when tendering for Army supplies of cable, to state from what source they will procure the wire to be used, and a substantial preference is given to firms that use wire of British manufacture.
§ Lieut.-Commander ASTBURYCan the hon. Member assure me that all the cable used shall be of British manufacture?
§ Mr. COOPERI cannot undertake to give that assurance, but considerable preference will be given to British cable.
§ Lieut.-Commander ASTBURYWhen the Government are urging all manufacturers to buy British goods, should not the Government set an example?
§ Mr. LAWSONIs it not a fact that firms in this country sometimes take advantage of that fact?
§ Mr. HANNONIs it not a fact that British cable is superior to any cable produced on the Continent?
§ Mr. COOPERI have no doubt that that is the case, and that is why we give a preference.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIf preference is given to British wire, why should not preference be given to British beef?