§ Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received a claim from Messrs. Wilkinson, Brothers, of Knightsbridge, in respect of the losses sustained by them in carrying out their contract for the supply of new laid eggs to military hospitals throughout England during the late War; whether he is aware that these losses were incurred owing to the Ministry of Food increasing the price of eggs after the 1077W contracts were made, thus rendering it impossible for the contractors to purchase eggs at their scheduled price; and whether, in the circumstances, he will consider the reimbursement of the amount lost by the contractors?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe claim referred to has been fully and sympathetically considered, and ex-gratia payments to the firm amounting to over £10,000 were completed in 1921. I cannot reopen the matter.