A. PROVISIONS AND ALLOWANCES IN LIEU. (See p. 128.) The Ration. The daily ration at home (for all ranks) consists of: Bread Frozen meat 16 ozs.; or Biscuit or flour, 12ozs. together with tea, sugar, bacon, cheese, jam, &c. Certain of the above items are commuted for their cash equivalent. In addition a daily cash allowance of 3d. a head is issued at Home Stations for the purchase of vegetables, &c. The total daily cost of the ration at home for 1926 (including the cash allowance of 3 d.) is estimated at 13-43d. as compared with the estimate of 13. 14d. for 1925. The actual issues in kind approximate to one-half of the total cost of the ration. At stations abroad the ration is fixed to suit the climate, and certain items are commuted at various stations. When it is not possible for the ordinary ration to be issued, either because the men are on furlough or for other special reasons, a daily allowance based on retail prices is given. Army Bakeries.-As far as possible bread for the troops is made in Army Bakeries, which are administered by the R.A.S.C. These bakeries are at Aldershot, Catterick, Chatham, Shorncliffe, Tidworth, and in most of the Commands abroad. The working expenses of these bakeries, other than the cost of civilian labour, ingredients and fuel are charged to other Votes. The working expenses of bakeries were shown in the Account for 1924-25 as follows: "All in" cost of producing 23,114,933 lbs. of bread, 13s. 9.07d. per 100 lbs. FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1926 (ENDING 31ST MARCH, 1927). [Vote 6.] VOTE 6.-SUPPLIES, ROAD TRANSPORT AND REMOUNTS-contd. [Vote 6.] III. ARMY ESTIMATES VOTE 6.-SUPPLIES, ROAD TRANSPORT AND REMOUNTS-contd. DETAILS of the foregoing. C.-FUEL AND LIGHT AND ALLOWANCES IN LIEU. FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1926 (ENDING 31ST MARCH, 1927). [Vote 6.] A. PROVISIONS AND ALLOWANCES IN LIEU-contd. from p. 126. Supply Reserve Depot.-The functions of the Supply Reserve Depot, at Deptford, are the storage and turnover of war reserves of supplies, and the receipt, custody and issue of certain supplies for peace consumption. Supply Depots.-Depots are maintained in certain Commands at home and abroad for the purpose of receiving supplies and issuing them to the troops. Supplies are obtained from the Supply Reserve Depot or under local contract according to the article in question.. Cold Stores and Ice Manufacture.-Certain Commands abroad mamtain cold stores for meat, &c., with auxiliary plant for the manufacture of ice. The cost of these stores at Gibraltar and Malta is shared with the Admiralty. The military personnel for these establishments are included in Vote 1: the civilians, in Subhead M of this Vote. B. FORAGE AND ALLOWANCES IN Lieu. The Forage Ration.-The daily cost of the forage ration at home for 1926 is estimated at 18.3d. as compared with the estimate of 19.4d. for 1925. When the forage ration cannot be issued in kind, a money allowance is made to cover the cost of purchase of forage at retail prices. The decrease is due to the fall in prices and to a reduction in the establishment of animals. C. FUEL AND LIGHT AND ALLOWANCES IN LIEU. The scale of fuel for heating, cooking, &c., for Home Commands is given in Allowance Regulations. The scales for Commands abroad are laid down in local regulations. The estimate includes : (a) Rents and fees for testing electric light and gas meters; (b) Current and gas purchased for power purposes in Commands; (c) Hydraulic and steam power, gas and electric current used at Ordnance Establishments at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and Royal Army Clothing Factory, Pimlico. Gas and electricity are supplied either by Local Authorities, companies, &c., or from War Department supply stations. The working cost of these supply stations is shown on p 201. The fuel is provided here. Officers and soldiers not in receipt of issues in kind owing to their living out of barracks, &c., receive money allowances in lieu which vary, as laid down in Allowance Regulations, with the season of the year, the rank of the individual, and whether he is married or single. 95,000/. is included for services rendered by the German Government under Articles 8-12 of the Rhineland Agreement covered in 1925 by the provision in Vote 11.K (see p. 213). Water is obtained from Local Authorities or from War Department Pumping Stations. Payments to the former are provided here. The cost of the latter is shown on p. 201. 10,000l. is included for services rendered by the German Government under Articles 8-12 of the Rhineland Agreement covered in 1925 by the provision in Vote 11.K (see p. 213). F. APPROPRIATIONS IN AID. Provisions sold include: (i) Issues to other Government Departments, principally meat to the Royal Navy at Gibraltar and Malta and provisions to the Royal Air Force in Iraq and Palestine. (ii) Authorised purchases of rations in exceptional cases by soldiers and by certain civilian subordinates. Forage sold includes limited authorised issues to officers with private chargers and proceeds from the sale of stable refuse, &c. Receipts for meter rents and the proceeds of repayment issues to regimental canteens, officers' quarters, &c., are included with Fuel and Light receipts. The receipts from the limited repayment issues of petrol to officers using their private motor cars on military duties are included under Item 4. |