§ 81. Sir K. FRASERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of 552 Munitions what were the conditions of purchase by a firm of wholesale clothiers of the surplus War Office stock of discharged soldiers' suits; whether such conditions have been complied with by the purchasing firm; whether any portion of the suits still remain in the hands of the War Office; and, if so, what is the position of the firm in reference to the loss which may be sustained?
Mr. HOPEThe purchasers agreed to pay 45s. per suit for approximately 577,000 suits. The contract is subject to a deposit of £50,000, which becomes for feitable in the event of failure of the contractor to carry out its terms. The purchasers have, up to the present, taken delivery and paid for approximately 240,000 suits, which leaves a balance of approximately 337,000 suits not yet taken delivery of. The contractors have strongly represented that a large proportion of the suits are not made to ordinary trade sizes, and that this has prevented them from selling. These representations are now being considered.