§ Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of horses purchased by the military authorities for each of the past five years from Great Britain, the Irish Free State, and foreign countries; and whether in future he will arrange for such purchases to be made solely from Great Britain?
§ Mr. COOPERThe figures asked for in the first part of the question are given below. As regards the second part, it is the policy to purchase horses in Great Britain whenever possible, but at present the supply is not sufficient to meet requirements, and a, proportion of the horses are obtained from the Irish Free State. Horses are only purchased from foreign countries for troops stationed in or near those countries.
The figures are as follow:
— Great Britain. Irish Free State. Foreign Countries. 1927 487 155 16 1928 431 403 127 1929 741 429 13 1930 660 424 6 1931 (to 30th Nov). 724 299 1