§ 78. Mr. BETTERTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what is the estimated value of the stores which have been handed over at Chilwell to the Disposal Board for sale; what is the price obtained for the stores from this depot already sold; what steps he is taking to dispose of the remainder and by what date he expects to complete the sales; and of what articles these stores for disposal principally consist?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS (Mr. James Hope)It is not advisable in the interest of the Revenue to publish estimates of the value of goods for sale. The surplus stores lying at Chilwell unsold at the end of June represented about 10 per cent. of the total stores in the depot, and consisted largely of clothing, pack saddles, and leather equipment. A quantity of horseshoes, nails, and rivets has already been sold; but inasmuch as sales records are kept according to classes of goods, and not according to depots, I could not state the amount realised from Chilwell in parti- 1962 cular without elaborate investigation. The remaining surplus goods as yet unsold are being catalogued and advertised for sale in the usual way; but I cannot say when the sales will be completed, as it is expected that further amounts will continue to be thrown up by the Army authorities.
107. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for War whether such stores now housed at Chilwell as are to be sold will be sold at Nottingham?
§ Mr. HOPEI have been asked to answer this question. I am unable to give any undertaking as to where these surplus stores will be sold, but my hon. Friend may be assured that they will not be removed for sale if it is considered that satisfactory prices can be obtained locally.