§ MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the increasing complaints that the supplies for the troops 297 in Ireland now largely consist of foreign materials, and that the number of local contractors is steadily diminishing; and whether he could furnish the House with any document showing who are the contractors to the Army in Ireland for all purposes and the nature and price of the materials supplied.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANAt the same time may I ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can state the proportion of foreign beef and mutton at present supplied to the troops stationed in Ireland; and whether, in view of the fact that cattle and sheep are produced in abundance in Ireland, and that Irish taxpayers contribute towards the maintenance of the Army, tenders will in future be inclusively for home fed meat.
* LORD STANLEYI am not aware of any complaints as to supplies of foreign materials to the troops in Ireland, except as regards meat, nor am I aware that local contractors are diminishing in number. When local manufacture exists in Ireland every effort is made to encourage it as far as possible. It would cause much labour to furnish from all stations in Ireland a list of the contractors and their supplies. As regards the meat supply the whole question of supply throughout the United Kingdom is being considered.
§ MR. FLAVINMay I ask how many Irish manufactured bicycles have been sent to South Africa?
§ CAPT. DONELANHow much do the countries which supply these foreign goods contribute towards the maintenance of the Army?
§ MR. T. M. HEALYThe noble Lord has referred to the trouble it would involve to give us this information. That is the very reason I want the Return. I want to cause trouble. I wish to ask the noble Lord if he will direct his subordinates to go to the trouble of furnishing the information?
§ [No answer was returned to any of the questions.]