§ 25. Captain Soamesasked the President of the Board of Trade what contracts for textiles have been placed in this country on behalf of the United Nations relief organisation for Arab refugees.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftMy Department has recently been in touch with representatives of the Agency about their textile requirements. I am informed that the only textiles which they are buying in any quantity are tents and blankets. I understand that orders for some 3,300 tents have just been placed in this country on the Agency's behalf. The Agency recently invited tenders for 150,000 blankets and my Department, in collaboration with the Agency's purchasing agents in this country, notified firms and trade associations likely to be interested.
§ Captain SoamesWhile welcoming the fact that these orders have been placed, may I ask my right hon. Friend to do what he can to ensure that this international organisation also places in this country future orders for textiles which it may require?