§ MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office, what has been the saving per pair of boots on the purchase of Indian boots for the South Africa forces as compared with the average price of English made Army boots; whether the leather of which Indian boots are made is thinner than the leather used for Army boots in England, and there is practically no heavy sole leather used in India at all; whether the Indian boots ordered have been, or will be, subjected to the examination and tests usually applied at Pimlico to English made boots; and whether the large orders for English made boots for the Army, amounting to about 300,000 pairs, have only been given out in the past few days, after the strong protests made a few weeks ago.
* MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMSI have already informed the hon. Member, in answer to his question of yesterday, that the price paid for the Indian boots referred to was about equal to the lowest price paid in England. Price, however, did not govern the transaction. Speedy supply formed the only element. Boots made in India to the pattern of the home Government closely resemble in thickness of sole and upper the English made article. The Indian boots, as I have already told the hon. Member, were subjected to strict and proper inspection in India before being shipped. I do not know what "strong protests" the hon. Member refers to in the last paragraph 1050 of his question, but he may rest assured that the necessities of the Service alone caused the issue of recent orders.
§ MR. CHANNINGHave not orders for 300,000 pairs of boots been recently issued?
* MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMSI cannot give the exact figures, but undoubtedly large orders for boots have recently been issued, but not in consequence of any protest such as my hon. friend refers to.
§ MR. CHANNINGI shall draw attention to this matter on the Estimates.