Mr. NEWDEGATEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will instruct the district purchasing officers of the various counties to give an answer reasonably quickly, say, within a fortnight, to traders who have to purchase hay and 612W straw by a permit from the producers under the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Regulations, 1914–16, as, owing to the delay in receiving replies to their; applications for permits, traders have in many cases been put to inconvenience?
§ Mr. FORSTERPermits to traders to purchase are issued by the Secretary,. Forage Committee, 64, Whitehall Court. Endeavours are made to deal with all applications on the day of receipt, and they are always replied to within three days. The same remark* applies to correspondence with purchasing officers. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with particulars of the cases of delay to which he refers I will have special inquiry made.