§ Mr. RENTOULasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, whether the surplus stocks of the officers' clothing at present being sold by a particular firm in London are the same for which it was announced in the public Press on the 15th April last that tenders would shortly be issued by the Director of Army Contracts; and, if so, why it was subsequently decided not to issue tenders for the same, but to sell the stocks privately, and without affording other firms equal facilities
Establishment. Name. Date of entry as temporary or hired Pensioner clerk. Date of appointment to established post. Portsmouth … J. W. Seymour … … 17.5.20 19.3.24 Devonport … A. T. Edwards … … 30.11.21 1.1.24 Devonport … R. H. Humpherson … … 2.3.21 9.4.24 Devonport … G. H. Burn … … 11.2.22 9.4.24 Rosyth … J. Devitt … … 3.2.21 1.1.24 Rosyth … W. S. McLachlan … … 2.5.21 1.1.24 Rosyth … A. R. Sturdy … … 2.5.21 1.1.24 Rosyth … E. J. Heal … … 28.2.21 27.2.24 Rosyth … W. P. Ross … … 25.10.20 28.2.24 Portland … E. B. Smith … … 27.3.20 23.5.23 Greenock … J. Crabbe … … 14.8.23 29.2.24 Deptford … F. Reynolds … … 2.12.18 1.1.24 Haslar Hospital … P. G. Jenkinson … … 17.1.22 20.5.24 This list does not include Mr. R. O. Hill, of Portsmouth Dockyard, who entered the service on the 8th June, 1908, and was
236Wto tender for or to purchase the stocks in question?
§ Mr. LAWSONIt is probable that the stocks offered for sale by the private firm to whom the hon. Member refers includes some of the surplus clothing recently disposed of by the War Office, but I have no special information on this point. As indicated in the advertisement, it was at first proposed to sell this surplus clothing, the bulk of which consisted of articles of service dress uniform, by competitive tender, but a favourable offer having been received for the whole of the quantities available it was decided, after consultation with the Treasury Surplus Stores and Liquidation Department, who have had a large experience of similar sales, to accept it.