§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the terms of contracts for the supply of fresh meat to the Navy in Ireland permit the substitution of foreign for home-fed meat; and, if so, in what proportion.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe terms of contract for the supply of fresh meat to the Navy are uniform throughout the United Kingdom. The conditions of the contract as to quality are as follows:—
The whole of the beef to be delivered under this contract is to be good, fat, well-fed, freshly killed ox or maiden heifer beef, sweet, wholesome, and free from bruises, such as shall be approved by the commanding officer of the vessel supplied as in all respects fit for His Majesty's service, to the entire exclusion of the flesh of any bull, bull stag, cow, or any beast whatever that may have dropped on the road No refrigerated or frozen beef to be supplied.There is no further stipulation as to the origin of the meat.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANArising out of that answer, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether steps will be taken with a view of preventing the supply of foreign meat to the Navy?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The question on the Paper asks for the terms of the contracts, and these have been read out at length.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANYes, but what is done to prevent an evasion of them?
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERPrecautions are taken to see that the terms of existing contracts are carried out, and as a matter of fact they are rigorously carried out.