HC Deb 15 February 1900 vol 79 cc79-80
MR. D. A. THOMAS () Merthyr Tydvil

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office what proportion of the amounts claimed by those who catered for the troops at Aberdare and Pontypridd in 1898 has been paid out of Imperial funds; whether any of the balance not paid by the War Office has been paid from local or other sources; and, if so, how much; if he is aware that the amounts claimed were based on the, rates for catering specifically agreed upon between those who catered and the stipendiary magistrates for the districts in which the troops were quartered; and that the non-payment of a large portion of the amounts arranged under such contracts has involved some of the caterers in serious embarrassment; and whether he will take steps to let tradesmen throughout the country know that the War Office and county councils are in no way bound by contracts for the catering of troops made by stipendiary or other magistrates when troops are sent to maintain the peace in disaffected districts.

*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

Of £4,307 claimed, £1,531 has been paid out of Imperial funds. It is stated that a further £105 has been paid by the Glamorgan County Council. There is no knowledge at the War Office of the arrangements as to the rates for catering which were made by the chief constable of Glamorganshire; but it is understood that the county council considered the claims exorbitant. The whole question of the incidence of the cost of catering for troops in such circumstances is under consideration.

MR. D. A. THOMAS

I am not concerned with the arrangements made by the chief constable, and my question referred to that made by the stipendiary magistrate.

*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

My answer covers both.

MR. D. A. THOMAS

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will consider the advisability of increasing the maximum rates allowed by the War Office for the catering of troops when quartered in districts where rioting is anticipated or has actually occurred.

*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

The rates for billeting are fixed by Act of Parliament, and the question of liability for any charge not covered by those rates is under the consideration of the Government.