§ 4. Mr. L. SMITHasked the Secretary of State for War the average cost per head of victualling the personnel of the Army in 1913–14 and 1930–31, respectively; whether any substantial changes have taken place with regard to the amount and quality of the food supplied; and whether the cost of victualling is found to coincide in general with the average increase in the cost of food as indicated by the Ministry of Labour food-price index figures?
§ Mr. SHAWThe approximate daily figures are 11½d. for 1930, and 7¾. for 1913. The bread and meat supplied in kind through public sources are as in 1913, but both figures include also a cash element to enable the regimental authorities to purchase for the troops other articles of diet. This cash element has been approximately doubled since 1913, and this increase, after allowing for increase in market prices, undoubtedly and designedly gives the troops more purchasing power. In these circumstances, no real comparison with the Ministry of Labour figures is to be expected.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND - TROYTEWas not British meat supplied in 1913 instead of chilled meat?