§ Mr. MANDERasked the Lord Privy Seal what extra cost has been involved up to date on the taxpayer by the condition imposed in connection with development schemes that all materials required for the assisted works must be of British or Empire origin; and how many cases have arisen in which a higher price has been paid for goods than the price of the foreign article available?
Mr. THOMASI do not accept the hon. Member's suggestion that the condition to which he refers imposes any extra cost upon the taxpayer, and, in this connection, I would invite attention to the reply which I gave on 10th December to the hon. and gallant Member for North Midlothian (Major Colville). I am sending the hon. Member a copy of that reply, from which he will see that the condition that materials required for assisted works shall, so far as practicable, be of United Kingdom origin is subject to such exceptions as may be found to be necessary or desirable in any particular case having regard to all the circumstances, including the comparative price of British and foreign articles.