§ 39. Mr. HENDERSON STEWARTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether instructions have been issued by the Crown Agents to their departments in the British Colonies, Dependencies and Protectorates to the effect that all materials used on or for the building work which comes directly or indirectly under their control shall be of British manufacture, irrespective of price and quality?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)The Crown Agents are the agents in London of Colonial Governments. They have no representatives overseas and do not exercise control over expenditure on public works in the Colonies. But in placing orders on behalf of Colonial Governments it is the regular practice of the Crown Agents to place those orders with British firms.
§ Mr. STEWARTIf that is the position, how can the Minister reconcile it with She trade agreement recently arranged with Sweden?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI do not think it has anything to do with a trade agreement with Sweden or with anyone else. When the Crown Agents place an order on behalf of a Colonial Government, they place that order with a British firm.