§ 37. Sir Percy Hurdasked the Secretary of State for Air whether his Department is proposing to make all its contracts with manufacturers direct instead of through merchants; and whether, as the price is the same and accredited merchants have facilities for prompt and better delivery owing to the wide range of their business, he will maintain the former practice, if necessary stipulating that orders shall be placed, as far as practicable, in distressed areas?
§ Sir K. WoodIt is not proposed to make any change in the policy of my Department, which is to buy on the most economical terms; and, generally speaking, it has been found that these are 1708 obtained by dealing direct with manufacturers. Other things being equal, a preference is given to goods manufactured in distressed areas, and this can be more effectively achieved by purchasing direct from the makers than by placing orders through agents.