§ Sir H. CROFTasked the Postmaster-General whether he can give an undertaking that when the present large stock of American pencils, purchased during the War, is exhausted he will insist that only pencils produced within the British Empire are supplied for use in the post offices?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe supply of pencils for Government Departments is in the hands of the Stationery Office. Apart from large stocks of copying pencils which formed part of foreign supplies obtained during the War, and certain proprietary brands which are required for special purposes, the pencils supplied1220W to the Post Office and to the public service generally are manufactured in the United Kingdom. In this connection, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Remer) on the 15th February, which shows that in 1925 the Government spent £6,270 on British-made pencils and only £30 on foreign pencils, the latter being of a proprietary brand required for special purposes. I would also refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Blackpool (Sir W. de Frece) on the 8th February.