§ Mr. MIDDLETONasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that it is the policy of the State management scheme to spend as little money as possible in the Carlisle area where the profits under the scheme are made; that ail stores are purchased and all printing, etc., orders placed outside the Carlisle area: and that the traders of Carlisle complain that, in consequence of the Government's policy, the trade of the city suffers by comparison with conditions under private enterprise; and whether he will cause a due amount of the stores, etc., required by the scheme to be purchased within the Carlisle area?
Mr. HENDERSONThe answers to the first and second parts of the question are in the negative. As regards the third part, I understand that complaints have been made by local tradesmen, and that, so far as they have been addressed to the management, they have received full consideration. The general policy as regards purchases is to give the preference to any local firm which is able to quote on equally favourable terms with an outside firm. If my hon. Friend knows of any orders given to outside firms which might, in his opinion, equally well have been2338W executed by local firms, and will send me details, I will look into them.