§ MR. HOOPER (Cork, S.E.)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he can inform the House in how many cases Committees managing canteens in the Army throw open the supplies for these canteens to public competition, as recommended by his immediate predecessor in the office of Secretary for War, in replies to Questions put to that Right honourable Gentleman in the last Parliament; and, whether he will take any measures to encourage the adoption of the system generally?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)Reports, which were specially called for, show that nearly all the principal canteens obtain their chief supplies either locally or from private firms; but I have no information as to public competition. My Predecessor certainly expressed an opinion in favour of that system; but he, at the same time, stated explicitly that he did not think it desirable that the management of canteens should be interfered with by any directions on the subject. I agree with that view.