§ Mr. Hall-Caineasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that last year the Prison Commissioners asked for tenders for veneer millboards for use in Maidstone prison; that a foreign firm sent in a tender which was successful for the supply of an article which was not mill-board veneer but Swedish leather board; whether he will investigate the circumstance under which this order was lost to a British firm which did tender in the belief that a genuine millboard veneer was required; and why the Prison Commissioners should use foreign-made board instead of British board for Post Office stamp-books and thus contribute to the loss of British trade?
§ Sir S. HoareI have made inquiry and understand that in November last tenders and samples of the veneer required were issued by the Prison Commissioners to six British firms, of whom only three replied. One of the firms represented that the sample veneer issued with the tender was a machine-made article and of foreign origin and offered to submit a machine-made millboard of a competitive quality and price. They were given an opportunity to submit a further quotation but the sample they supplied did not comply with the requirements of the Prison Commissioners. In these circumstances the Commissioners accepted the lowest tender for the supply of material which met their requirements. The firm from which the tender was accepted is a British firm though I understand that the material is of Swedish manufacture. It is the policy to give preference to articles of British manufacture, but financial and other considerations make it impracticable to limit supplies entirely to home manufactures.