§ 25. Sir M. LEVYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of commissioned and non-commissioned officers and privates employed in the Forage-purchasing Department in England, Scotland, Wales, and Irelands how many of those employed have been 871 engaged on active service during the War; what was approximately the cost of the Department for the last financial year; and what was the value of the forage purchased by the Department in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe number of commissioned officers serving under the Forage Department is 332, and the number of warrant officers, N.C.O.s and men 11,054. Of this number, fifteen officers and about 3,000 N.C.O.s and men have been engaged on active service during the War. A very large number, including 140 officers, have from time to time been combed out, and all who are not earmarked for transfer to more active units are medically unfit or otherwise ineligible for general service.
The establishment expenses of the Department for the year ending 31st December, 1917, were £457,606 15s. 3¼d., and the delivered value of produce handled in the same year was £10,226,545 1s. 2d.