§ 6. Mr. COOTEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if, under the Army Regulations, cases of alcohol are being 2201 sent by private catering firms to individual officers of our fighting forces in France; is he aware that each case consists of one dozen bottles and weighs about 52 lbs., and that they are conveyed from Southampton by our transport free of carriage and delivered to the trenches by our Army Service Corps; and will he say what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThese private consignments are forwarded under the arrangements made for the dispatch of gifts and comforts for the Expeditionary Forces. Parcels up to 56 lbs. in weight are accepted at the ports and conveyed thence carriage free to the troops. This arrangement does not exclude the dispatch of cases which may contain alcohol to individuals if the above conditions are complied with.