§ Mr. QUIBELLasked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will at some suitable centre or depot make an experiment by supplying such centre or depot with British meat, with a view to securing an accurate comparison of cost as between British and other meat;
(2) whether the conditions of contract for the supply of meat to His Majesty's forces are so worded as to permit the submission of a tender for supplying the forces with British meat; and, if not, whether he will amend the tender form in such a way as to render it possible to submit a tender for supplying the forces with British meat?
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§ Mr. SHAWIt is the practice of the War Department to invite alternative quotations for fresh meat and for frozen meat at certain home stations at which it is considered that fresh meat could be supplied on advantageous terms. Even at these stations it has not been practicable on account of the great difference in cost to purchase fresh meat during the present year, with the exception of one small contract for 1,350 lbs. for a camp in a case where no frozen meat was offered. In these circumstances it does not appear that any advantage could be gained by an extension of the existing practice in the matter of obtaining alternative prices.