§ Sir G. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange that his Department, in placing contracts for supplies, will ensure that contractors are given their orders in such a way as will enable them to employ their staffs continuously instead of having to disband trained personnel in consequence of the present system under which rush orders are given from time to time, with intervals between the orders during which it is impossible for firms to keep their trained staffs fully employed, thus penalising those firms who are most expeditious in the handling of contracts?
§ Mr. LawThe desirability of placing orders for supplies on the principle which my hon. Friend advocates is fully appreciated by my Department, and every endeavour is made to proceed in this way. But it is sometimes inevitable, in existing circumstances, that rush orders should be placed, or that a continuous flow of orders should be interrupted.