Captain COOPERasked the Secretary of State for War whether there had recently been two outbreaks of illness among the cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; whether any such illness had been caused by bad food being supplied to the cadets; and what precautions were being taken to prevent unsound food being provided?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Haldane)There have been two slight outbreaks of illness, one in which seven cadets were affected, of whom one was admitted to hospital and discharged next day, and another in which forty cadets were affected, of whom two were admitted to hospital and discharged next day. Various causes were assigned by the cadets for their sickness, e.g., cider, milk, and potatoes. All articles issued were carefully tested, but no explanation of the direct cause was discovered. The outbreak cannot therefore be attributed to any bad food supplied. Every precaution is taken to prevent unsound food being supplied; the contract terms are strict, and daily inspections of all supplies are made by an officer.