§ Sir F. SYKESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the equipments of foreign origin or manufacture, with their quantities and values, under orders outstanding on 1st November, 1924, and under orders placed subsequently for the Admiralty; and if he will state, in respect of each of such orders, the circumstances which necessitated foreign sources of supply?
Mr. DAVIDSONI hope my hon. and gallant Friend will be content when I say there has been no change in policy or practice in this matter since my predecessor, the present Parliamentary Secretary of the Treasury, stated in answer to a question on the 25th April, 1923 (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 434), that less than 1 per cent. of Navy contracts, except for oil fuel which is in great measure a foreign production, went to foreign contractors during the financial year 1924–25. The preparation of the full information asked for in the question 591W would entail a call upon the time of the staff of the Department which I am sure my hon. and gallant Friend would not consider justified in the circumstances.