§ Captain EDENasked the Secretary of State for Air what proportion of the contracts for meat for the feeding of the Royal Air Force during the past 12 months has been placed with the British producer, what proportion in other parts of the Empire, and what proportion in a foreign country; and whether he can make any estimate of the additional cost per month of placing such contracts in this country compared with any other part of the Empire and with a foreign country?
§ Sir S. HOAREAll contracts for the supply of meat to the Royal Air Force at home are placed by the War Office and I understand that the reply to the similar question addressed by my hon. and gallant Friend to the Secretary of State for War will be applicable to the Air Force as well as to the Army.
§ Captain EDENasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what proportion of the contracts for meat for the feeding of the Army during the past 12 months was placed with the British producer, what proportion in other parts of 1131W the Empire, and what proportion in a foreign country; and whether he can make any estimate of the additional cost per month of placing such contracts in this country compared with any other part of the Empire and with a foreign country?
§ Commodore KINGI presume my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the feeding of the Army and Royal Air Force at home, as it would not be practicable to supply home-produced meat to the troops at stations overseas. Apart from con-tracts placed locally at a few small stations, amounting to less than 1 per cent. of the total, practically the whole of the meat, other than preserved meat, supplied to the troops at home is of Dominion origin. It is roughly estimated that the extra cost of supplying fresh meat would amount to some £30,000 a month. This figure includes the Air Force requirements.