92. Mr. Leeasked the Minister of Supply to what extent Government orders for textile products have now been placed; and the dates at which other textile orders necessary for the rearmament programme will be released.
§ Mr. LowI am assuming that the hon. Member is referring to orders placed under the scheme to accelerate defence contracts for textiles which was announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 7th April. In addition to the normal programme, orders to the value of about £9½ million have been placed under this 15W scheme. Further tenders are either under consideration or expected back shortly. The balance of orders will be placed in the near future.
§ 93. Mr. Errollasked the Minister of Supply why a contract for 2,500,000 yards of 38-inch cloth 82×74, 32's and 36's, issued in connection with the Government's plan for aiding the textile industry with accelerated re-armament orders, has been placed with a firm, details of which have been supplied to him, who possess an authorised capital of only £5,000 and are not included in the 1951 edition of the principal Cotton Trade Directory; and why have numerous important and well-established textile firms been given no opportunity of tendering for this or other contracts.
§ Mr. LowI regret that my hon. Friend has been misinformed. Eighty-nine firms were invited to tender and the order for 2,500,000 yards was shared among 20 firms, including the one to which he refers. This firm is a firm of merchant converters who have successfully carried out contracts for the Ministry of Supply in the past two years.