Mr. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)To ask the Under Secretary of State for War what action it is intended to take in view of the direct encouragement to fraud embodied in the openly ex-pressed intention of certain officers com- 1461 manding regiments of reserve forces to expend public funds upon purchases from persons whose names have been officially notified as having been struck off the War Office list for supplying defective goods for the use of Her Majesty's troops.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMIn cases where there has clearly been fraud or serious misconduct on the part of the contractors, the Secretary of State is prepared to order the commanding officers of Volunteer corps to cease dealing with persons whose names have been struck off the War Office list. He hopes, however, that, without any instruction on his part, Volunteer commanding officers will avoid dealing with all such persons.