§ Sir K. FRASERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps have been taken to dispose of the 337,000 discharged soldiers' suits which a contractor has failed to take in completion of his contract for 577,000 suits at 45s. per suit; what loss the Government is likely to incur by the contractor failing to fulfil his contractual obligations: whether any part of such loss will be borne by the contractor; and whether the £50,000 deposit, or any portion of it, will be forfeited partially to reimburse the Government for the loss they will sustain in the disposal of the suits?
Lieut-Commander YOUNGI have been asked to answer this question. Negotiations on this subject have been proceeding for some time past, but I am not yet in a position to announce a settlement with the contractors.