§ SIR HENRY TYLER (Great Yarmouth)asked the Secretary of State for War, What quantity of work is now being performed for the War Department on the Continent; what contracts are running; what is the total of those contracts in money and materials; and, what proportions remain to be completed?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN) (, &c.) StirlingThe contracts that are being carried out on the Continent for the War Department are—For Hotchkiss, 6-pounder, 810 quick-firing guns, with ammunition, valued at £99,261; for German brown gunpowder, valued at £126,753; for Italian and Swiss walnut gun-stocks, valued at £52,946; for Cavalry swords, valued at £20,000; for various small items, valued at £8,541—making a total of £307,501. The value of the outstanding supplies—that is, the amount still undelivered under these contracts—is £185,833. These contracts were none of them entered into since I have been at the War Office; but I am informed that, speaking generally, none of the articles in question could, at the date of the respective contracts, have been obtained in this country.