MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEasked what units will be provided with mobile field kitchens for experimental purposes on manœuvres this year; and, inasmuch as it will not increase the present scale of transport, if these experiments may be made on a larger scale than in former years?
§ Mr. HALDANETwo cooking waggons and two cooking carts are being issued to the Aldershot Command for distribution to units for trial. The introduction of mobile field kitchens will increase the present scale of transport. Until a satisfactory pattern has been found, experiments on a large scale are not warranted. Up to the present no pattern that has been tried has proved satisfactory.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware in the first place that, owing to the delay in the action of the War Office in this matter, that in some units officers are paying for cooking carts for their men out of their own pockets, while the men are subscribing for this much-needed reform through the canteen fund; and, in the second place, is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that he has just authorised an extra G.S. waggon to carry the men's dinner, so that in the event of the cooker being supplied this G.S. waggon would be redundant, and, therefore, that there would be no extra transport required?
§ Mr. HALDANEI do not know about that, but if the Noble Lord will put down a question I will make inquiry.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the extra cart was supplied, and therefore this would be redundant if the cooking cart is supplied to take its place?
§ Major ADAMIs it not the fact that the German Army is now issuing a field mobile kitchen not only to battalions but also to companies?
§ Mr. HALDANEI have seen something of the sort in the papers, but I do not know. All I can say is that having tried a number of patterns we have not found one which we consider satisfactory.