Sir GILBERT PARKERasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that German agents are extensively buying three-year-old horses suitable for army purposes in England, Ireland, and Wales; and is it a regulation of the War Office that horses shall not be bought under four years old?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe War Office has no detailed information as regards the numbers and ages of the horses purchased in this country by agents of foreign Governments. As a general rule horses in times of peace are purchased by the War Office between the ages of four and six years, but occasionally a few three-year-olds are purchased if of a specially suitable stamp.