§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the total value of textile goods purchased by his Department during the past 12 months.
§ Mr. DeakinsI have no separate figures for purchases of textile goods. The general practice is to obtain supplies of textile goods from other Departments and public bodies.
§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of textile goods, over the last 12 months, has been purchased from British manufacturers by his Department.
§ Mr. DeakinsPurchases are not made direct from manufacturers, and no figures are available of the proportion which is of British manufacture, but I understand that the greater part is of British origin.
§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will instruct his Department to purchase all future textile requirements from British manufacturers.
§ Mr. DeakinsPurchases are not made direct from manufacturers but from other Departments and public bodies. I see no reason to expect any change in the present arrangements for meeting the Department's needs.