§ MR. RENDALL (Gloucestershire, Thornbury)I bog to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many tradesmen have settled at Ludgershall with the object of being better able to cater for the various wants of men in barracks at Tidworth; whether he is aware that whilst brigade passes into the camp have been granted to traders living as far away as Portsmouth and Swindon, the military authorities have refused passes to traders actually living and carrying on business in Ludgershall parish; and whether he will consider the advisability of giving the local rate paying traders preference over strangers, or at least of placing them on equal terms with them; and will he express such a desire to the proper quarters.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. Haldane, Haddington)Traders who live and carry on business in the neighbourhood of Tidworth barracks are invariably granted passes provided that their character is satisfactory and that there is not already a large number of passes issued to others in the same way of business. Preference is always given to local tradesmen.