MR. FIELDI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the firm which has obtained the contract for the supply of meat to the troops in Great Britain, except those stationed at Aldershot, is connected with the firm of the same name carrying on extensive operations in America; whether he can state what saving will be effected by giving the contract to the importers of foreign meat; and whether he has made inquiries if the troops would prefer native or foreign meat?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELL WILLIAMS,) Birmingham, S.I am not aware of the fact to which the honourable Member refers; but it is obvious that anyone undertaking to supply frozen or refrigerated meat must be in direct or indirect connection with persons in the Colonies or elsewhere producing these commodities. The tenders of the firm referred to have been accepted only to a limited extent in five districts, and the saving effected as compared with the prices at which other firms tendered is considerable. No complaints as to the quality of the food supplied have reached me.
§ MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Isle of Thanet)Has the honourable Member made any efforts to see whether this meat can be produced in the Colonies?
§ MR. POWELL WILLIAMSIn all probability a great proportion of this meat is produced in the Colonies.
MR. FIELDHave any inquiries been made of the troops as to whether they were satisfied with and prefer this foreign meat?
§ MR. POWELL WILLIAMSAs I understand it, the troops are contented if the meat is good and they get enough of it.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)May I ask whether meat contracts contain any provisions as to penalties for breach of conditions?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder! That does not arise out of the Question, and notice should be given of it.