HC Deb 24 June 1890 vol 345 cc1778-80
MR. HANBURY

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War on what date Messrs. Ross were struck off the list of contractors for the Government; on what date the War Office issued a Circular to the Volunteers strongly recommending the purchase of the Slade-Wallace equipment; at what date the War Office became aware that Messrs. Ross were under special arrangements with the Slade-Wallace or Wallace firm involving a practical monopoly of the supply of this equipment to the whole Volunteer Force, or whether they are now aware of it; whether, in fact, a very large proportion, practically the whole, of the sets of this equipment so recommended by the War Office have been made, and are still being made, by Messrs. Ross; whether the War Office have taken any, and what, steps to inform Commanding Officers of Volunteers that this firm was not allowed to manufacture for the Army; and on what ground the War Office thus permits and encourages the supply to the Volunteers of work and materials which it will not permit to be supplied to the Regular Forces?

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

Messrs. Ross were struck off the list of contractors in March, 1888, and the fact has been publicly announced so frequently that it is impossible to suppose that Commanding Officers of Volunteers are ignorant of it. For the rest, I will refer my hon. Friend to the answer given him on the 8th of May, and will only add that so long as the equipments purchased by Volunteer corps out of their own funds are found on inspection to pass the standard required, the War Department cannot concern itself as to the source from which they come.

MR. HANBURY

The hon. Gentleman has not answered the second paragraph of the question.

MR. BRODRICK

The second paragraph did not seem to me to be germane to the subject. The War Office have no official information as to the arrangements between Colonel Wallace and the firm of Messrs. Ross. The War Office have given and will give no orders to Messrs. Ross; but they have no control over the places to which the Volunteers may go to purchase articles out of their own funds.

MR. HANBURY

Is it not a fact that the War Office recommended the use of this new equipment, and knew that Messrs. Ross were the only people who could make it, and that the War Office issued this recommendation within a few months after Messrs. Ross had been struck off the list?

MR. BRODRICK

No; it is not the fact. The War Office have no knowledge that Messrs. Ross are the only contractors that can make the equipment.

MR. HANBURY

For the Volunteers.

MR. BRODRICK

The Volunteers, like the Government, can obtain the equipment from Colonel Wallace's factory if they desire to do it. There was an interval of 15 months between the striking off of Messrs. Ross and the issue of the Circular.

MR. HANBURY

I beg to give notice that I will raise the whole question on the Vote for the Volunteers.

MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)

Where is the factory of Colonel Wallace?

MR. BRODRICK

I believe it is situated in Bermondsey.

MR. J. ROWLANDS

Will the hen. Gentleman give the address?

[No answer.]