§ MR. J. MACVEAGHTo ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office, whether he can state approximately the total value of contracts made directly 1558 by the War Office with contractors; the names and amounts of any such contract placed with contractors in Ireland; the average strength in officers and men stationed in Ireland; and the average cost of victualling per head per year.
(Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) The total value of the contracts, concerning which the hon. Member desires information, made direct with Irish firms (eighteen in number) amounted to about £64,000 last year; the total for all similar contracts was £1,200,000. The specific information required as to names and amounts cannot be published. The average strength of officers and men stationed in Ireland, including Militia recruits, is about 28,000. The cost of victualling per head of these troops (excluding officers) is about £8.