§ Mr. Burkeasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why paper bags required for the War Office are purchased through agents though manufacturers have asked to be allowed to quote direct, pointing out that the only effect of passing orders through agents is to add 33⅓ per cent. to the costs?
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§ Captain CrookshankI assume that the hon. Member refers to paper provision bags which are supplied to the War Office by the Stationery Office. Orders for these bags are placed, after competitive tender, with the actual manufacturers, and no orders are placed through agents. There is no record of any application from a manufacturer for inclusion in the list of firms to he invited by the Stationery Office to tender for these bags having been refused.