COLONEL LOCKWOOD (Essex, Epping)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War the number of men discharged, at their own request, from Chelsea Royal Hospital in each year from 1890 to the present time?
§ MR. BRODRICKIn the seven years ending 1896 the numbers of pensioners discharged from Chelsea Hospital at their own request were respectively 9, 17, 13, 13, 12, 24, 18, giving a yearly average of 15. The total number of in-pensioners is 547.
COLONEL LOCKWOODI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office how many contractors are employed to provide the meat for the pensioners at Royal Chelsea Hospital; and if the contract specially provides for the supply of English, meat?
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS, Birmingham, S.)One contractor supplies the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, but the Infirmary contract is sometimes given to a separate firm. The meat is of the best description, and of English origin—as far as it is possible to be certain on the point.
COLONEL LOCKWOODasked whether the hon. Gentleman was aware that there were two contractors engaged in the supply of the meat to the hospital, the one being the person with whom the contract was entered into by the Government, and the other being a sub-contractor who actually supplied the meat?
MR. POWELL-WILLIAMSsaid that he was not aware of the fact. As far as he knew there was only one contractor engaged.
MR. POWELL-WILLIAMSsaid that if the hon. and gallant Gentleman would furnish him with the particulars of the case, he would inquire into them.
CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)asked who were responsible for seeing that the meat supplied was of good quality?