§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any, and, if so, what contracts for the transport of troops and stores for the war in the Transvaal have been entered into between the. Admiralty and the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company; whether he is aware that a member of the Government is a director of the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company; and whether it is in accordance with practice for a Government Department to enter into contracts with companies of which members of the Administration are directors.
§ *MR. MACARTNEYWe have chartered many vessels belonging to the P. and O. Steamship Company for the transport of troops to South Africa, particulars of which will be given in the return now being prepared. I presume that a member of the Government is a director of the company, as the hon. Member says so, but I was not aware of it. I do not know precedents in the case one way or the other.