§ 1. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that tenders have been invited by the Indian state railways for 62 boilers and fittings and 62 sets of cylinders; and whether any steps are being taken by the British Government to secure the placing of these orders in this country, in view of the unemployment which at present exists in the locomotive industry?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Butler)The orders referred to by my hon. Friend are being placed by the Indian authorities. As regards the second part of the question I would refer to the reply given on 30th November to my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich (Mr. A. Ramsay) and the other statements that have been made in this House regarding the prac 2 tice in the matter of placing contracts for Indian railway stores.
§ Sir W. DAVISONSeeing that the capital upon which these railways were built was provided by Great Britain, does not the hon. Member consider it desirable that representations should be made in order that equipment and repairs should also come to this country?
Sir NAIRNE STEWART SANDEMANWould it not be cheaper to subsidise the companies who are making these engines instead of paying the dole?