HC Deb 10 May 1898 vol 57 cc841-2
MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the Northampton manufacturers for several years have declined to tender in respect to boots for the Army, and that they have for the last few months been bringing to the notice of the War Office that they could supply any number of boots more suitable than the article now delivered were specifications more in accordance with modern appliances; whether defects in the boots worn by British soldiers in Egypt were due to any fault of the contractors or to the boots not being suitable for the purpose for which they were required; whether the Clothing Department was, if so, responsible; whether the boots which are alleged to have not been able to stand the wear in Egypt were issued to the soldiers in October, and whether they had already been worn several months before there was any complaint; and whether he will appoint a Departmental Committee which shall hear boot manufacturers in regard to specifications in boot contracts for the Army, with a view to the best and moat serviceable article being supplied?

MR. POWELL WILLIAMS

It is the fact that the Northampton manufacturers do not tender to a large extent for the supply of Army boots, the reason being that the class of labour necessary for the hand-closing required in the present pattern is only available to a limited extent in that town; as already explained, the boots were fully up to the standard of quality, and have been found in other cases to be suitable and durable. Until the full report is received from the General Officer Commanding, I am unable to answer the remainder of the Question. The question of the best boot for the Army, having regard to all the conditions of climate and service it has to withstand, is now being fully investigated.

MR. LABOUCHERE

Would the honourable Member allow the bootmakers to appear before this Committee and make a statement with regard to the present system of making boots?

MR. POWELL WILLIAMS

I am not aware that I have mentioned any Committee, but the bootmakers of Northampton have over and over again made representations to the directors of clothing in relation to boots, and all their representations have been carefully considered by me and the military authorities with whom rests the final selection as to the boot to be adopted.

MR. LABOUCHERE

I think the honourable Member said that not many boot manufacturers in Northampton had tendered. Can he state whether in the past few years any have tendered? I am under the impression that there are none.

MR. POWELL WILLIAMS

At the present moment there are no less than 12,000 Army boots on order in the town of Northampton.