§ Mr. KILBRIDEasked the Home Secretary whether before deciding the contracts for mail-bag canvas the Postmaster-General is consulted, with a view of expressing an opinion as to suitability, price, etc., and whether he has a voice in deciding who shall be awarded the principal or more important item in these contracts?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe answer to both questions is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. KILBRIDEasked the Home Secretary whether he can state the price paid for 704,500 yards of British-woven canvas for mail bags; by how much did the amount exceed the price quoted for foreign-woven canvas; is he aware that British canvases are largely woven from foreign-spun yarns, and that the cost of 2673W producing the yarns represents 90 per cent. of the value of woven cloth; and whether, before accepting tenders for British-woven canvases at higher prices than foreign, he will take steps to satisfy himself, before awarding the contracts, that British-woven canvases are produced from British-spun yarns?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe cost of the 704,500 yards of British-woven canvas at the accepted contract rates will be £31,042 2s. 11d. This amount will exceed the price quoted for foreign-woven canvas by £985 7s. 6d. It is understood that British canvases are sometimes woven from foreign-spun yarn, but to what extent this is the case I am unable to say. The cost of the yarn would naturally represent a large proportion of the value of the canvas, but I have no data on which to form an estimate of what that proportion is. To insist on mail-bag canvas being manufactured from British-spun yarn would considerably enhance the cost.