§ MR. BELLAIRSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the manufacture of flour, soft bread, and other victualling stores for the troops at Malta is undertaken by the War Office independently of the Admiralty establishments; whether any experience has been gained by using a common refrigerating store at Gibraltar; and if any inquiry has been held as to whether economy could be obtained by the combined action of the 526 two Departments at Malta and other places resulting in single establishments.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE,) HaddingtonshireAs regards the manufacture of flour and soft bread at Malta, the reply is in the affirmative. Biscuit is made by the Admiralty with flour supplied by the War Department. As regards Gibraltar, a contract for the supply of both services has been in force for many years. A Government cold meat store has just been erected and issues will commence on the 1st July. As regards Malta, the desirability of combined action was fully considered in 1900, and it was at that time decided not to introduce such a system.
§ MR. BELLAIRSIs the matter of combined action being considered?
§ MR. HALDANEI think the matter of combined action generally, not confined to these places, is obviously a very large question which may be usefully considered. On other points the matter stands as I have stated.