MR. HANBUBYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if it is true that, on the 16th July, Captain Stack-pool, one of the Government Inspectors, paid an unexpected visit to the camp of the 3rd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, and condemned the meat supplied to the troops, ordering it to be destroyed as unfit for human food; who were the contractors for such meat; what were the terms of their contract; and what quantity had they previously supplied to the troops in this or previous years under the same contract, and under other contracts, if any.
§ * MR. E. STANHOPECaptain Stack-pool is an Officer of the Army Service Corps, among whose duties is the inspection of meat supplied to troops, for which he has been specially instructed. He inspected the meat on the occasion referred to, and rejected it; but his power did not extend to its destruction. The contractor was Mr. Summers Gill, of Carleton, Pontefract, as to whom action will be taken when a Report from the General Officer Commanding, which is now expected, is received. The contract was in the usual form. The contractor has held nine contracts for the supply of meat.
MR. HANBUEYThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the point of my question which has reference to the price and the terms of the contract.
§ * MR. E. STANHOPEThat is not the point of the question put to me.