HC Deb 28 February 1901 vol 90 c34
COLONEL NOLAN

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether contracts for the conveyance of troops are kept secret; whether contracts for or the prices of arms, ammunition, clothing, medical comforts, tents, saddlery, food, and forage are kept secret; whether the prices given for Argentine horses is a secret; and can he say, where prices or contracts are secret, what machinery is used to prevent fraud, corruption, and waste.

LORD STANLEY

The prices paid under the contracts are not disclosed. The prices paid for Argentine horses have likewise, in the interest of the public, not been made known; but full particulars of all purchases, whether by contract or otherwise, are given to all officers concerned for the purpose of audit.

COLONEL NOLAN

The Financial Secretary has not answered the last part of the question, which is its main point.

LORD STANLEY

I think we can trust our officers to see that there is no fraud, corruption, or waste.

COLONEL NOLAN

Does the Secretary for War accept the responsibility for all this secrecy, seeing that millions of money are involved in these contracts?

[No answer was returned.]