§ 44 Mr. PERKINSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office (1) whether tenders were issued for the contract now held by Messrs. Dickeson for the supply of groceries, etc., to certain 962 Yeomanry regiments in this country in respect of the daily 4d. allowance; (2) how many Yeomanry regiments in this country are now being exclusively supplied with groceries, etc., by Messrs. Dickeson in respect of the daily 4d. allowance; and (3) what is the length of contract between Messrs. Dickeson and each of the Yeomanry regiments now being supplied by them in this country in respect of the daily 4d. allowance?
Mr. BAKERI am afraid that it is impossible to furnish this information without calling for reports from the commanding officers of all the Yeomanry regiments in the country, and in view of the great pressure on the Department I hope that the hon. Member will not press his request. Under the rules for the management of regimental institutes, the commanding officer is responsible for making canteen contracts and for watching over the interests of his men in this respect.
§ 57. Mr. PERKINSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether Messrs. Dickeson allow any reduction in their prices for bulk in their contracts with various Yeomanry regiments in this country in respect of the daily 4d. allow ance?
Mr. BAKERYes, Sir, contractors have to allow 10 per cent. rebate in respect of all purchases through the regimental institutes.
§ 58. Mr. PERKINSasked whether, under their contracts with various Yeomanry regiments in this country Messrs. Dickeson are obliged to supply green stuffs; and whether they have done so from the commencement of those contracts?
Mr. BAKERUnder the King's Regulations the commanding officer arranges for the supply of vegetables and green stuffs through the regimental institute.
§ 59. Mr. PERKINSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that complaints have been made of the butter and potatoes supplied by Messrs. Dickeson to various Yeomanry regiments in this country in respect of the daily 4d. allowance; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
Mr. BAKERComplaints have been received from one Yeomanry regiment as to the price of certain articles supplied by Messrs. Dickeson, and the matter is now receiving attention.
§ 61. Mr. ROWLANDSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention was called on 19th March to the following cases of wages paid by Messrs. Vickers, of Erith, to women employed on making belts for the Government, namely: rate of wage 9s. per week, worked 83½ hours, Sunday counting double time, and received 15s.; worked 69 hours and received 13s. 3½d.; worked 69 hours and received 11s. 1¼d.; whether further detailed information was supplied to the Director of Army Contracts on 13th April; and, if so, whether he can state what action has been taken in the matter, and when the answer of the Department will be made?
Mr. BAKERInquiry has been made, but the firm are unable to trace the cases cited by my hon. Friend. Perhaps he will be good enough to communicate with me further on the subject.
§ 72. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the fact that the War Office have decided to pay the firm of Borthwick and Sons a slight advance in price on their contract (1st July to 30th September) to supply beef to the troops; whether, in ordinary markets, there is a difference of 2d. per pound or more between home-killed beef and the frozen imported article; and whether he will explain how the average prices of home-killed beef during August and September justified such an advance being paid?
Mr. BAKERAs I have already stated in reply to a previous question, the advance in price allowed to Messrs. Borthwick and Sons was in respect of the quantities supplied in excess of their contract liability. The advance was based on the market prices of frozen beef in the two months referred to, and had no relation to the price of home-killed beef.