§ GENERAL F. S. RUSSELL (Cheltenham)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the hostilities now threatened between Spain and the United States, and the consequent rise which will probably take place in the price of refrigerated meat and imported oats, the Government can see their way to specify home-grown produce for all Army and Navy contracts?
MR. POWELL WILLIAMSin reply to my hon. and gallant Friend, I have to say that if the price of imported meat rises to such a point that it becomes cheaper for a contractor to supply homegrown than imported, there is nothing in the existing conditions of contract to prevent him from doing so.
CAPTAIN DONELAINCan the hon. Gentleman say what is the present difference in the prices of home-grown and foreign meat?
MR. POWELL WILLIAMSNo, Sir; the prices, as the hon. and gallant Member should know, vary from time to time.