§ COLONEL BLUNDELL (Lancashire, S.W., Ince)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is correctly reported as having stated on Friday last, in reply to the hon. Member for Preston (Mr. Hanbury), that a set of accoutrements has been supplied to the War Office by Messrs. Ross and Co. on Colonel Slade's contract after Colonel Slade had promised not to employ that firm, because I have had a letter from Colonel Slade denying that he had given any such promise?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe Report is correct. Colonel Slade, who was abroad at the time, having previously notified at the War Office that any communications respecting this contract should be addressed to Colonel Wallace, the latter was informed, on receipt of the sample set of accoutrements marked with Messrs. Ross's name, that Messrs. Ross could not be allowed to make the accoutrements, and was requested to carry out the Secretary of State's wishes on behalf of Colonel Slade. Colonel Wallace replied that a mistake had happened, a recurrence of which he would take steps to prevent. Although the steps taken proved ineffectual, it is clear that they were recognized as coming from Colonel Slade, as will be seen by reference to Mr. Tomlin's evidence before the Lords' Committee in March of the present year.