§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the married non-commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers detached from their regiments are not allowed to receive money in lieu of rations, although warrant married officers are permitted this option; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to the removal of this dissimilarity of treatment, having regard to the loss and inconvenience experienced by the non commissioned officers referred to.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) It is more than doubtful if this grant would be of real benefit to the men mentioned, as they could hardly get better value by retail purchase than they get by the supply of rations in kind which are provided under a large contract. Further, the General Officer Commanding has considerable latitude for dealing with special cases under the allowance regulations. There does not appear, therefore, to be any good reason for incurring this extra public expenditure.