§ Sir WALTER de FRECEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether all Government contracts for the last six months have been placed within the British Empire; and, if not, whether he will specify the exceptions and the reasons actuating policy in each case?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. It would not be possible without an excessive amount of labour to give details or orders placed in foreign countries during the past six months, but I am informed that for the most part these individually were of small value. To take a single example, the orders for State Railway material placed in this country since April, 1922, amount to £1,602,000 as against £133,000 placed abroad. As I have previously explained, the High Commissioner for India in this matter acts under the instructions of the Government of India, and in the interests of the Indian taxpayer places his orders in the best market.