§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state under what arrangements are the troops of Holywood and Victoria Barracks supplied with groceries, and when is it tendered for; and whether, seeing that the canteen shops are supplied by a person who pays an annual sum for liberty to do so without tenders being asked for, he will state what sum is so paid.
§ MR. BRODRICKThis is a matter resting entirely with the General Officer Commanding, to whom my hon. friend should address any communications on the subject he may like to make.
§ MR. BRODRICKWith regard to canteens the contracts never come to the War Office at all. We have no cognisance whatever of the arrangements made by General Officers Commanding in 682 their districts for the supply of the canteens.
§ MR. SLOANThen I may take it the War Office are not aware whether these things were contracted for or not?
§ SIR JAMES HASLETT (Belfast, N.)Can the right hon. Gentleman say if the existing arrangements work satisfactorily?
§ MR. BRODRICKI am afraid I cannot give my hon. friend a reply to that. The question of canteens is never dealt with at the War Office. With a view to decentralisation and placing a proper responsibility on commanding officers it has been deemed very undesirable that the War Office should assume duties which they have never undertaken before.