§ Mr. HANSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether a contract amounting to about £5,000 for the supply of granite for the construction in part of the Methil Docks in Scotland has been placed in Norway; whether a supply of granite of equally suitable character for this work could have been obtained from well-known granite quarries in Cornwall; whether an offer was made by well-known' granite quarry owners to furnish the required quality and quantity of granite within a period of twelve weeks from the date the contract was given, freight and labour being assured; and whether, seeing that the failure to give this contract to a British firm has denied to a considerable number of workmen ineligible for active service the opportunity of employment and earning a reasonable wage, which they are so desirous of obtaining, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
Mr. RUNCIMANI have no knowledge of the circumstances under which this contract was placed, but I have sent a copy of my hon. Friend's question to the North British Railway Company, to whom these docks belong, for their observations, and I will let him have a copy of their reply.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has any official information regarding the placing of a contract in Norway for granite to be used in the construction of the Methil 231W docks in Scotland; whether Cornish firms had offered to carry out the work; and, if so, why was the contract given to Norway?
Mr. RUNCIMANMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given this afternoon to the hon. Member for the Bodmin Division.