§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Limited, were invited to tender, and tendered, for a flour contract for the Admiralty in October, 1929, and that a contract for flour was placed with them; how many other tenders were invited and submitted, and to what extent, if any, the tender of the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Limited, was lower than the others submitted; and the date 2175W upon which the first contract was made with the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Limited?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. After a preliminary test of samples, nine firms were invited to tender and eight firms tendered. The Co-operative Wholesale Society's tender was accepted for one-fifth of the total requirements for which portion their quotation was the lowest. This is the only contract for flour which has been entrusted to the society.