§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEY (Somersetshire, E.)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether the 17,000 new suits sold or advertised for sale by Messrs. Spencer, Turner, and Boldero at 7s. 11d. each were made by Messrs. Buckley and Sons, Hollington and Co., S. Hamond and Co., and others, for the War Office as 11s. 9d. a suit; and if he will say at what price these suits were sold by the War Office to Messrs. Spencer, Turner, and Boldero, or to the persons from whose hands they passed to Messrs. Spencer, Turner, and Boldero.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) A considerable number of suits of discharged soldiers' clothing which were found surplus to requirements at the close of the South African War were sold by tender; but the firm mentioned in the Question did not tender for the goods. It is not known whether these are the suits in question, nor, if so, how these were obtained.