§ 24. Sir CHARLES HENRYasked the Secretary of Slate for War whether the£1,750,000, the estimated cost of the works at Cippenham, include the land; and what price has been or will be paid for the 600 acres that have been requisitioned?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe estimate of £1,750,000 did not include the land. The land has not been purchased, and, for obvious reasons, the estimated cost cannot be disclosed at the present stage.
§ Mr. G. LAMBERTCan the right hon. Gentleman say the result of the inquiry into this subject which he promised last week?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI cannot immediately say what the result is. I have had some consultations upon the subject, and Sir James Stevenson, the Surveyor-General of Supply at the War Office, who was formerly, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, at the Ministry of Munitions, is looking into the whole of this subject with an absolutely open mind and is advising me as to the course I should pursue from a business point of view and in the interests of the country.
§ 25 . Sir C. HENRYasked the Secretary of State for War whether, when the Ministry of Supply is organised, it is the intention to transfer the Cippenham scheme to that Ministry or whether it is the intention of the War Office directly to undertake the repairs of motor transport vehicles?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have the whole question of Cippenham under consideration. I have asked Sir James Stevenson, the new Surveyor-General of Supply at the War Office, to look into the whole matter and make me a special Report.
§ Sir C. HENRYMy right hon. Friend has not answered the question whether it is his intention to transfer this to the Ministry of Supplies?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt was my first idea to transfer it to the Ministry of Supplies, but I received from the Ministry of Supplies strong arguments which led me to believe that they wished me to retain the responsibility for dealing with the matter.