§ Captain BARNETTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that firms supplying goods to the War Office are now being urged to furnish detailed fortnightly returns showing deliveries to date; whether he is aware that, in view of the fact that the required information is already in the possession of the War Office, the filling up of Form D.C 1 (E) imposes an unnecessary tax upon the depleted staffs of the firms in question; and what purpose is served by asking at the end of April, 1918, for the probable date of completion of contracts for the supply of goods which were delivered and paid for in 1917?
§ Mr. FORSTERFortnightly returns on Form D.C. 1 (E) have been regularly supplied by contractors for some time past. The information given by these returns is not already in the possession of the War Office, and is required to enable the Department to follow the progress of deliveries under contract. The request for a return in regard to a contract which has been completed and paid for was due to a clerical error.