HC Deb 08 December 1936 vol 318 cc1812-3
23. Mr. DAY

asked the Secretary of State for War the proportions of foodstuffs supplied to the Army, including such items as flour for bread, and/or the ingredients for margarine which may be obtained from foreign countries, and the value of same?

Mr. COOPER

The total purchases of foodstuffs made by the War Office in the financial year 1935-36 amounted to roughly £1,000,000, of which foodstuffs of foreign origin totalled some £82,000. The principal items of foreign origin were bacon, purchased for certain garrisons abroad, and preserved meat. Neither the flour nor the margarine purchased in this country is of foreign origin, but information is not available as to the proportion and value of foreign ingredients in these items.

Mr. DAY

Could not the food purchased abroad have been purchased in Empire countries?