26. Major BARNESasked the Secretary of State for War whether the estimates given of the monthly expenditure on military purposes in Mesopotamia, namely, £2,500,000, is an inclusive figure covering the proportion of the cost of the 100 Rolls-Royce chassis ordered for that country, engineering works carried out for the purpose of military operations, whether by soldiers or civilians, medical service, and all expenditure directly or indirectly connected with the military operations and garrisoning of the country; and, if not, what is the said inclusive figure?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe £2,500,000 a month includes the cost of the Rolls-Royce chassis referred to, but not capital expenditure on works and land. The latest estimate of expenditure on the last two items during the current financial year is approximately £1,000,000.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not the case that the Rolls-Royce cars sold by the Disposal Board fetched a better price than the new cars that have been now bought for the War Office, because they were sold at the top of the market, whereas the new cars have been bought cheaper, and a profit has been made by the Disposal Board?
§ Lieut.-Colonel CROFTIs it not a fact that the only possible way to reduce military expenditure in Mesopotamia is by enormously increasing the means of transport between the various units in that country?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLBoth of these supplementary questions are extremely well-founded and extremely well-intentioned!
§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORIs the right hon. Gentleman going to send any Black and Tans to Mesopotamia?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, Sir; their services are at present fully engaged.
§ 31. Mr. LUNNasked the Secretary of State for War whether his Budget Estimate of £21,600,000 for the expedition in connection with the Mesopotamia garrison was based on the possibility of reducing the garrison in the course of the year; whether the garrison has not been reduced but, on the contrary, increased by 1683 over 30,000 men; and whether he is satisfied that the present rate of expenditure in Mesopotamia does not exceed £2,500,000 a month?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the strength of the garrison is about 30,000 above what on 1st April last I estimated it would be, but it is only about 20,000 above the actual strength on that date. The best estimate I can give of the present rate of expenditure, exclusive of capital, is £2,500,000 a month.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea of the capital expenditure?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have said, in the course of a reply to another question, that the capital expenditure on this account is estimated at about £1,000,000.
§ Mr. LUNNCan the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope of an early cessation of hostilities in Mesopotamia, so avoiding the continued loss of valuable lives?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am afraid, Sir, I could not—any immediate cessation. I had hoped that the garrison would have been greatly reduced below the figure previously given, even by this time.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSWill the right hon. Gentleman represent to the Leader of the House his own urgent desire to make a full statement on the matter?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is already settled that there is to be a statement.