§ MAJOR F. C. RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the vinegar stated to have held arsenic, supplied to the troops at Hilsea, was a portion of the vinegar obtained by contract for the Government; and, if so, who were the contractors?
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS,) Birmingham, S.As this supply of undoubtedly poisoned vinegar is still the subject of investigation by a Court of Inquiry, I will reserve any statement about it beyond saying that the cask affected was one of the six purchased by the regimental canteen from the same firm, and that the other five were quite innocuous; I am glad to be able to say that all the persons affected have completely recovered.