§ 15. Mr. PIRIEasked the Secretary of State for War whether, considering that it has not been found practicable to create a special branch of the Army Clothing Department to deal with officers' uniforms and that commanding officers are for bidden to exercise any pressure upon officers to deal with any particular firm, he will either withdraw that prohibition, 194 and thus enable commanding officers to make arrangements regimentally for a supply of officers' uniforms at a less cost than at present, or else instruct the War Office to make the best arrangements they can, either with outside tailors or otherwise, to enable officers of all branches of the Service to purchase uniforms at a reasonable rate?
§ The SECRETARY Of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)There is nothing in the Regulations to prevent a regiment from making an arrangement with a military outfitter regarding the supply of uniform or equipment, provided that no pressure Should be brought to bear upon any individual officer in this respect.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if what the hon. Member for Aberdeen desires is not done in effect by every sensible commanding officer now?
§ Colonel SEELYI should be sorry to say "Yes" or "No" to that question as to the sensibleness of commanding officers. What we are all desirous of securing is that there should be as little expense as possible thrown on officers in every regiment in procuring their uniforms.
§ Mr. PIRIEDoes not that show all the more necessity for making the Regulation universal, as all commanding officers are not as sensible as the Noble Lord suggests?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have many complaints made to me that we do not reach the end of questions, but if hon. Members will insist in asking supplementary questions in the nature of arguments, I can hardly be blamed because we do not do so.
§ Colonel YATEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman—
§ Mr. SPEAKERAsk the question on the Paper.