§ Sir F. FLANNERYasked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether the process of reconstruction after the War involves a large number of orders from the self-governing Dominions for machinery which they cannot manufacture themselves; and, if so, what steps have recently been taken to ensure that such orders shall be given to British and not foreign makers?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYThe question of securing that orders for machinery needed in the self-governing Dominions from outside sources shall be supplied by British rather than by foreign manufacturers is primarily one for consideration by the Dominion Governments, but I would remind my hon. Friend that arrangements were initiated in 1917 and are now practically completed for strengthening the Trade Commission Service maintained by His Majesty's Government in the Dominions in order to promote British trade. Any such orders which come to the notice of the Department of Oversea Trade, either from its own correspondents in the Dominions or from other sources are immediately transmitted to firms in this country in a position to fulfil them.