§ 7. Mr. EVERARDasked the Secretary of State for War whether the recent sale of serviceable accoutrements was an occasional sale by negotiation; whether such sale was necessitated by considerations of urgency on the part of the War Office, whether, before reaching agreement as to price with the purchasers, any attempt was made to obtain competitive offers for the goods sold; and, if not, whether he is satisfied that a better price for the benefit of public funds could not have been obtained if open competition had been resorted to?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative. As regards the third and fourth parts, the Department's experience of previous efforts to dispose of this class of goods by competitive tender justifies the conclusion that a less favourable price would have been realised by that method of disposal.
§ Mr. EVERARDIs the Department still continuing that method or will everything be put up to tender in future?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI cannot promise that. If by any particular method we are likely to get a better price, that method will be adopted.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs it not the case that the method of competitive tender has failed, because there is no competition, since the firms get together to avoid competition; and will the right hon. Gentleman take any steps to prevent that malpractice?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI have no evidence of that. If the hon. and gallant Member has any, I shall be glad to consider it.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the report of a certain case now pending in the Law Courts, in which this practice was adopted to secure lower prices for tenders for Government stamp contracts?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThis question refers to the sale of surplus stores.
§ 8. Mr. EVERARDasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in addition to the recent sale of serviceable accoutrements, negotiations for the sale of larger quantities of certain items of serviceable accoutrements to a private firm have recently taken place and, if so, with what result; and whether, in the event of any sale being concluded in this or any other instance the oldest and most worn articles in War Department stocks will be disposed of?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSYes, Sir; a further sale of somewhat larger quantities of certain items of serviceable accoutrements has been negotiated with a private firm. As regards the second part, the articles disposed of are surplus to Army requirements.
§ Mr. W. THORNEWould the right hon. Gentleman publish in the "Gazette" every month the number of articles sold to the various firms from time to time, with the names of the firms?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI do not know that any useful purpose would be served by that, but I will consider it.
§ Mr. EVERARDWould the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question, as to whether the articles that are most worn are disposed of first?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIt would, of course, be absolutely impossible to say that without recording every article issued to troops and examining everything that there was. I cannot, therefore, say that they are the oldest, but I do say that they are surplus to requirements.