§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will give details of the recent purchase of crockery for the various catering establishments fully within his control; what purchases were made; at what costs; from which firm and from which country; what offers were received from British manufacturers; and how the price and delivery dates compared with those from the firm with whom the eventual order was placed.
§ Mr. DunnI have been asked to reply.
Crockery to the value of £12,200 has been purchased from Rosenthal of West Germany. The management of the Refreshment Department made inquiries as to operative prices of traditional suppliers to the House. Price, guarantee, replacement upon demand and delivery dates were the deciding factors for the order of Rosenthal Studio Line china, added to which Rosenthal offers a further year's supply of crockery at June 1975 prices.