HC Deb 28 November 1938 vol 342 cc33-4
63. Miss Horsbrugh

asked the Postmaster-General why his Department, when ordering jute goods, asks for price quotations of cloth spun and woven in Calcutta and does not adhere to the practice of other Government Departments in specifying that the cloth must be spun and woven in the United Kingdom?

Major Tryon

The Post Office in inviting tenders for jute goods asks for price quotations, and requests that tenderers shall state where the yarn will be spun and the cloth woven. Most tenderers quote both for material spun and woven in the United Kingdom and for material spun and woven in India; and the contracts are allotted after consideration of all the circumstances including a substantial preference in favour of United Kingdom goods.

Miss Horsbrugh

May I ask the Postmaster-General why his Department is the exception, whereas another Department buys jute solely from the United Kingdom?

Major Tryon

I am not responsible for the other Department, but in this case we should have to give a preference of over 200 per cent. if we did not give this order to India.