HC Deb 26 March 1901 vol 91 cc1382-3
MR. JOYCE

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will state the amount expended for the last year in Ireland in purchasing pork and bacon for the Navy; whether any of this sum has been expended with Limerick city firms; and whether he will state the amount expended on pork and bacon in foreign countries.

*MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

During the current financial year £850 worth of pork was purchased from foreign countries. The whole of the remainder of the pork for the Navy—to the value of £13,234— was purchased in Ireland. The contracts for the supply of Irish pork were obtained by Cork firms, none of the Limerick firms having been successful in their tenders. Bacon is not purchased by the Admiralty for the use of the Navy.

CAPTAIN DON ELAN

Has not Irish pork proved superior to foreign pork?

*MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

I have had no opportunity of forming a personal opinion.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if he can give an undertaking that no money shall be spent in purchasing provisions in foreign countries when, seeing that they can be obtained in Ireland, there is no justification for it?

*MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

I do not think I can do that.