16. Mr. C. PALMERasked the Secretary of State for War the total amount of the fund at the disposal of the Navy and Army Canteen Board; how much has been expended, on what objects, and the balance remaining; and to what purpose, or purposes, is it to be devoted?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSON (Parliamentary Secretary, War Office)It is not possible to state the total unexpended balance of canteen funds pending the completion of the liquidation of the Expeditionary 1980 Force Canteens. The total amount expended by the Army Council from canteen funds up to the 31st December, 1919, amounted to £936,900 approximately, of which details have been published from time to time in Army Council instructions. Information as to disbursements made by the United Services Fund should be obtained from Lord Byng at the offices of the Fund, 29, Cromwell Road, S.W.7. The funds are utilised for the benefit of serving and ex-serving officers and men and their dependants.
§ Commander Viscount CURZONIs it the intention of the War Office to cease calling this the United Services Fund, seeing that the Navy does not participate in that?
§ 44. Viscount WOLMERasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Navy and Army Canteen Board have made arrangements to open forthwith another retail shop at Aldershot in the Queen Alexandra Young Men's Christian Association premises fronting Aldershot Fleet main public road; and whether he will explain the reason for this, in view of the statements made to the business deputation received by him on the 3rd June that all Navy and Army Canteen Board retail shops should be closed forthwith and that no others would be opened?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONAs I stated to the deputation which I received at the War Office on the 3rd June, while I could give no pledge as to establishments and institutes of the Navy and Army Canteen Board on War Department land, the others not so situated had either been closed or were actually being closed. The new premises of the Navy and Army Canteen Board, which have recently been opened at Aldershot in Pennefathers Roard, are, as the Noble Lord is aware, situated on War Department land, well inside the confines of the camp and in the midst of the barrack buildings.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs the hon. Gentleman aware that these new premises are on the road only a few hundred yards away from the old premises which he promised should be taken away? What practical difference is there in the two positions?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI am aware of that, but it is more than a few hundred 1981 yards. I have seen the map and the scale. They are placed on the road, and they are in the middle of the camp.
§ Colonel ASHLEYWill anyone except members of the naval and military and air forces be allowed to use these canteens?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe use will be confined to those who are members of the forces and a limited list of people who are more or less connected with the forces. I have not the list with me, but I can supply it.
§ Colonel ASHLEYIs not the Government going into competition with private traders?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONYes, so far as the forces are concerned there is competition with private trade, but there is no competition in regard to supplying civilians outside those people I have mentioned connected with the forces.
§ Viscount WOLMERAre we to understand from that answer that it is the intention of the Government to compete with traders in these garrison towns in their ordinary trade?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe Canteen Board, as the Noble Lord knows, exists to supply the necessities of the soldier and his dependants, and it is the intention of the Government to continue to so supply them.
§ Mr. PALMERWas not the Canteen Board merely an Army measure promised to be dropped when the War was over?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSON; No, the canteens are a very old institution. They were very unsatisfactory before the War, and a new system was introduced which was more or less to come to an end at the end of the War, and now a Committee is sitting at the War Office to consider the formation of a new system which will apply not only to the Army. but to the Navy and the Air Force.
§ Viscount WOLMERAre these steps of development being taken without the sanction of the Committee which is now sitting?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThere are no developments of the scope of trading, I am informed. The scope of trading is the same as it has been for some time. 1982 But, as far as regards the future, the Committee will no doubt consider the scope, and have offered to receive witnesses from the association represented by the Noble Lord.