§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Comptroller - General that he requested the War Office to tell him what were the terms of certain contracts in regard to jam for the troops in 786 South Africa, and to his further statement that to the inquiries which were addressed to the War Office on April 26th, 1904, he had, up to the present, received no reply; why there was this delay in replying; and whether he will communicate to the House what were the terms of these contracts.
§ *MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORTThe Report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General is open to convey an impression which I am sure is not intended. It is true that a final reply is only now being sent, but intimations that the question was receiving consideration were sent to him. I regret the long delay, which was mainly due to the necessity of correspondence with South Africa, and with the representatives of the Colonies concerned.