HC Deb 06 February 1902 vol 102 cc523-4
MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, if he can state the terms of the contract under which the Cold Storage Company is now supplying meat for the troops in South Africa and the terms of the new contract entered into which begins in April next; and will he also say how many tenders were received in either case.

LORD STANLEY

Contract prices are never made public. I am, accordingly, unable to reply to the first part of the Question. As regards the tenders, 35 were received for the contracts made in South Africa for 1901–02, and 65 were received in the recent competition, three of which were made for the whole contract.

MR. WHITLEY

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he can say whether the new contractor is the same Mr. Bergl who, on May 22nd, 1901, was fined for selling diseased meat?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! Notice must be given.

MR. WHITLEY

On the point of order, does not my supplementary Question arise out of that on the Paper?

MR. SPEAKER

It is not the same Question. The one on the Paper asks for the terms of the contract, and that has been answered. Now, the hon. Member asks as to the antecedents of the contractor—a point not raised in the original Question.

MR. WHITLEY

I will put the Question down.