§ MR. BOWERMANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what contracts for the supply of chocolate to the Navy are now running, and with what firms; whether any quantities of chocolate supplied to the Naval Yard at Deptford have had to be returned as unfit for use; and whether it is intended in future to have the chocolate made in the Government chocolate mill at Deptford, which is only now employed about one-twelfth of its time or capacity.
§ MR. LAMBERTOne contract for 200,000 lbs. of chocolate was placed this year, but it is not considered desirable to 565 state the name of the firm. A. considerable quantity (81,000 lbs.) has been rejected under the contract, the failure being attributed to the unusually hot weather which occurred this year while the manufacture was in progress, and which prevented the chocolate from cooling properly. There is no reason to doubt that the firm will be able to make satisfactory deliveries now that the cooler weather has set in. It is intended to continue, as at present, to manufacture the bulk of the chocolate for the Navy at Deptford Victualling Yard. The small quantity obtained annually from contractors is with the object of keeping the trade in touch with Admiralty requirements, so that in a time of emergency the Admiralty output could be supplemented without delay.
§ MB. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)Is the statement in the last paragraph of the Question correct?
§ MR. LAMBERTIt may be the case.