§ SIR CARNE RASCHTo ask the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office have taken steps to recover the loss on the condemned forage from Prentis the contractor; why Prentis was allowed to contract for the War Office; whether the Department had any security that the obligation would be carried out; and whether the Department was aware that Underwood was the real contractor in this transaction.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) The necessary steps to recover the loss mentioned are being taken by the legal advisers of the War Department. With regard to the question of Mr. Prentis being allowed to contract with the Department, there was no reason whatever to suppose that he had any connection with Messrs. Underwood, 1484 or that the latter was the real contractor. As regards security it is not the custom of the Department to require security outside the terms of the contract for the fulfilment of contract obligations in regard to supplies.