§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what are the regulations with regard to the supply of refrigerated meat to the troops at home stations; what proportion of the whole supply at any station during the year may consist of such meat; whether he can state the average cost per pound during last year of home-fed and refrigerated meat respectively; and what were the respective quantities of each supplied to the troops?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. WOODALL,) HanleyRefrigerated beef is accepted during the period from the 1st of October to the 31st of May for the troops at home stations; frozen mutton during the whole year. The quality must be the same as in the case of home-killed meat. During the period referred to, the refrigerated beef and frozen mutton together may amount to 60 per cent. of 196 the total issue. The average cost of refrigerated beef and home-killed meat respectively cannot be stated, as separate contracts are not made. The quantities of each are not known. Refrigerated meat is not issued at all stations; and where it is issued it must be within the limit already stated—namely, 60 per cent.