HC Deb 30 May 1934 vol 290 cc169-70W
Captain HOPE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contracts in respect of the new buildings at Geneva for the League of Nations have been placed with British firms?

The PRIME MINISTER

Three important contracts in respect of steel windows and one large contract covering the whole of the internal work in the library book-stack, including structural floors, stairs, lifts, etc., have been secured by firms in the United Kingdom. Further orders are very likely to be placed in this country.

Captain HOPE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what countries contracts have been placed for the new League of Nations buildings at Geneva and the numbers in each case?

The PRIME MINISTER

Orders have been placed with about 27 contracting firms or groups of contracting firms. Of these, eight are groups involving firms of different nationalities consisting for the most part of Swiss, French, German and Italian elements. Of the individual contracting firms, three are British, three are German, one is Italian, one is Hungarian and 11 are Swiss. It would be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to give the exact number of contracts placed with each of these firms or groups of firms as many of them have received additional orders which might either be regarded as extensions of their original contracts or as fresh contracts.