§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the Secretary of State for War, In what manner the rejected or disused military clothing of the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands is now disposed of, and what amount it has produced during the last two years; whether, until recently, this contract was submitted for public competition; whether that system has been abolished; and, if so, when and why; and, whether, at a recent monthly sale of miscellaneous goods at Woolwich Arsenal, waterproof sheets, which had hitherto been included in such sale, were withdrawn, and a private contract for them was made without competition?
THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF ORDNANCE (Mr. NOSTHCOTE)(who replied) said (Exeter)The time-expired clothing of the Army is disposed of by contract, and the sum realized annually is about £44,000. Public competition for this contract has not been abolished; but, as Mr. Brand, the then Surveyor General of the Ordnance, explained in 948 1885, only two tenders at all satisfactory were received, and the contract was given to the highest bidder. It will expire on the 31st of March next. Up till April last old waterproof sheets were included in the Woolwich auction sales but at that time an offer was received for these articles at a price in excess of the average sum realized at the sales. This offer was advantageous to the Department, and was accepted for such waterproof sheets as might be for disposal during one year from the 1st of May last. Perhaps I may take this opportunity of saying that a Circular was issued in June last reminding Commanding Officers that soldiers were entitled to retain such articles of time-expired clothing as might be necessary to save their new clothing, or for use on fatigue duty.