§ 34. Mr. FIELDasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what system is pursued regarding meat contracts, generally, in Ireland; whether tenders are invited or whether private arrangements are made with certain individuals; 1729 whether there is open competition to ensure reasonable prices; and whether the quality of the supplies is inspected, and by whom is the inspection carried out?
§ Mr. FORSTERIn the Dublin and Cork districts meat is obtained under the contract system. In the Belfast and Curragh districts cattle are bought from farmers and slaughtered by military labour. Under the contract system tenders are invited and there is open competition. Supplies are inspected by the Army Service Corps.
§ Mr. FIELDCan the hon. Gentleman say whether it is a fact that a stockbroker from Belfast has a contract for The Curragh?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo, Sir; I think not.
§ 35. Mr. JOHN O'CONNORasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his Department has yet investigated the working of the experimental meat scheme now in operation in certain districts in Ireland; can he now state the results obtained by the scheme; do the results, if obtained, encourage the continuance of the scheme; and will he now inform the House what are the intentions of the War Office in respect to the matter?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have nothing at present to add to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on 28th June.
§ Mr. O'CONNORWhen will the hon. Gentleman be able to let us know? Has not the experiment gone on long enough for an adequate result? It has been going on since last December.
§ Mr. FORSTERYes, I think so far as I am able to gather, it has been so successful that in all probability it will be continued, but no final decision has been reached at the moment.