§ 56. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he will make representations to the directors of the Suez Canal Company that, in view of the large holding of the British Government in the shares of the company, British citizens should be invited to tender for any goods or commodities which may be required from time to time by the company; Lind what proportion of recent orders for Portland cement have gone to British firms?
§ Lieut.-Colonel J. COLVILLE (Secretary, Department of Overseas Trade)The Suez Canal Company maintain a list of approved manufacturers from whom they invite tenders for their requirements. The names of United Kingdom firms appear on the list. It is open to any British firm to apply to the head office of the company in Paris to have 948 its name added to the list. As regards the last part of the question there have been continuous deliveries of United Kingdom cement to the company since 1931, but I am not in a position to state what proportion they represent of the total cement orders placed. I will endeavour to secure this information.