HC Deb 16 July 1908 vol 192 cc1075-7
*MR. LAMONT (Buteshire)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether commanding officers of Yeo-manry regiments must now obtain their supplies of hay and corn through Government contractors instead of by local purchase; whether he is aware that many commanding officers had, in 1907, made local contracts for the 1908 training, and will, in consequence of the new Regulation, be put to considerable expense in repudiating those contracts; and whether he can see his way in such cases to relax the Regulation.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE,) Haddington

It is the intention that the supply of forage to Yeomanry regiments during training should in future be made by contract or local purchase under War Office supervision on the same line as the supply to the Regular Army. Cases brought to notice of arrangements made regimentally by commanding officers for the supply of forage for the training during 1908 have been specially sanctioned. I will consider whether any, and what relaxation of the broad principle might be made, in order to admit of the advantage of local knowledge and influence of Territorial officers being obtained.

MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)

Will the War Office compensate those officers who have entered into contracts for 1908?

MR. HALDANE

That will be considered.

*MR. LAMONT

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in one case last year, the commanding officer contracted locally at £410s., whereas the Government contractor is now asking £5 5s.?

MR. HALDANE

Sometimes commanding officers did make a good bargain and the benefit went to the funds of the the corps. That is the kind of thing we want to eliminate now.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN (Worcestershire, E.)

Does the right hon. Gentleman really mean that in order to obviate the possibility of the profit going to the corps fund, a higher price is to be paid to contractors?

MR. HALDANE

We want to get the assistance and advice of Territorial officers for the benefit of the general system, and we relieve commanding officers of the responsibility for these things, and adopt the plan which obtains in the Army generally.