§ 2. Mr. MANDERasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office to what extent contracts made by his Department are given to firms who contribute to the research associations established by State aid in their industries?
§ Mr. COOPERContracts are given to such firms on the same basis as to any others, i.e., strictly on the merits of their tenders.
§ Mr. MANDERWill the hon. Gentleman give the information asked for in the question as to the proportion of contracts that go to one set of firms; will he look into it and let me know?
§ Mr. COOPERIt is impossible to say. We should have to go through every contract that has been given in recent years to find out the percentage of orders that have gone to firms who contribute to these research associations.
§ Mr. MANDERWill the hon. Gentleman look into it to see if in general he can give the information?
§ Mr. COOPERIt would mean a very expensive and long investigation.
§ 23. Mr. MANDERasked the Postmaster-General if he will state to what extent contracts made by his Department are given to firms who contribute to the research associations established by State aid in their industries?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Graham White)Contracts are given to such firms on the same basis as to any others, that is to say, strictly on the merits of their tenders.
§ Mr. MANDERWill the hon. Gentleman be good enough to consider the desirability of supplying the information?
§ Mr. WHITEMy hon. Friend has already heard something of the difficulties in connection with another Department to which he put a question this afternoon, but I will consider it.