81. Mr. NUGENTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that Mr. Richard A. Balfe, of Nassau Street, Dublin, on the 25th May, 1918, purchased from Messrs. Batchelor, Limited, of Halling-on-Medway, 2,000 tons of cement. 500 tons of which was required for the contractors for an aerodrome, and the remainder for rebuilding work in connection with the destroyed area in Dublin, for which a licence has been issued; that the Controller of Contracts refused to let the firm mentioned deliver any cement to Ireland although the firm when they offered the cement in May last fully calculated that they had ample to supply the Order apart from what the Government might require for their own purposes; that in consequence of the Controller of Army Contracts refusing to grant a permit for the release of the cement Mr. Balfe was unable to carry out his contract for the aerodrome contractor and that the War Office supplied the cement in question through another house; that, in addition, Mr. Balfe was unable to supply the cement required for rebuilding operations in Dublin; that this failure on his part was due to the direct action of the Army authorities in taking over the cement bought by Mr. Balfe, and which he has been unable to replace, as the Class B permit now issued to cement merchants is of no use, as all the supplies are taken up by Class A permits; and that in consequence of this action of the authorities Mr. Balfe has suffered considerable loss; and if he will state whether reasonable compensation will be given to Mr. Balfe for the loss which he has sustained?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe inquiries necessary to enable me to answer this question are not yet complete, but I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.