§ Mr. LEA (St. Pancras, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is in accordance with the Regulations and Orders for the Army that officers on full pay should be employed on the committee of management of the Canteen and Mess Co-operative Society, Limited; and, if so, seeing that this is calculated to cause bias and lay such officers open to the suspicion of being influenced in the giving of garrison or regimental contracts, and with a view to securing open competition in the interests of the soldier, if he is prepared to take any action in the matter.
§ MR. HALDANEI explained to my hon. friend, in reply to a similar Question on the 28th November last, that the officers on full pay at present on the board of this society receive no remuneration for their services, and not one of them has any pecuniary interest in the business. These officers hold no shares, and are on the Committee of Management only for the very necessary purpose of looking after the interests of the soldiers.
§ MR. HALDANEOf course.