§ Sir W. PRESCOTTasked the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether for the manufacture of war medals, as distinct from work in connection with war medals, firms of expert medallists have been invited to tender: if so, what proportion of the orders for the total number of medals manufactured have been awarded to such firms; what is their comparison with the cost of production at Woolwich; whether, in the case of the bronze Victory Medals, a certain proportion of the requirements which were supplied by the trade were secured at a price much more favourable than they were being produced at Woolwich; if so, what was the approximate saving per 1,000,000 medals; and why, if such a saving was effected, is production at Woolwich on more costly lines, and to the exclusion of the trade, persisted in?
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§ Sir R. SANDERSMedallist firms have been invited to tender for the manufacture of War medals, and have supplied about 25 per cent. of the number at present required, or, including work in engraving, etc., about 40 per cent. in value of the total orders. In the case of the bronze Victory Medal, which is the only medal manufactured both at Woolwich and by the trade, the respective costs were approximately the same when the contract was placed with the trade in July last, and the cost of production at Woolwich has since fallen appreciably. The last part of the question, therefore, does not arise. I would add that in making a comparison of costs, it must be remembered that at Woolwich this work is carried on almost entirely by ex-service men, many of whom are badly disabled.