§ SIR JAMES WOODHOUSE (Huddersfield)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Comptroller and Auditor-General of Public Accounts addressed inquiries to the War Office on the 26th April, 1904, to ascertain what were the terms of the contracts for the supply of jam to the War Office for South Africa; what examination had been made to insure that full contract weights were delivered; and whether a reported deficiency of 337,704 lbs. was investigated by a Court of inquiry and reported to the Treasury; and that the 1182 War Office neglected for more than ten months to reply to the Auditor-General's inquiries; and whether any reply has in fact yet been furnished; and, if so, what is the nature of the reply.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) This Question deals with a matter arising from the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on the accounts for 1903–4. These matters will come before the Public Accounts Committee, and I am not, therefore, prepared to discuss them at the present time.