§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state the money value of food supplies which were destroyed as unfit for use during the South African campaign; and whether any of the loss has been made good by the contractors who provided such supplies.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI assume the hon. Member refers to the period subsequent to the cessation of hostilities as well as to the actual campaign. Records have not been kept of the smaller losses but the principal losses are as follows:—For the period from August, 1901, to the termination of the war in May, 1902—£29,567. For the period subsequent to this date, up to March last—£402,278. Where the contractors' liability has been established, they have made good the losses. The value of the supplies thus made good is £31,517. Of the £402,278 above referred to, the liability for the sum of £94,336 is still under the consideration of the law officers.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)And how many of these contractors are Members of this House?
§ [No answer was returned.]