§ 67. Mr. GILBERTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the German ships handed over to this country have been sold; how many still remain unsold; what amount of money has been received by his Department from sales; can he state if any part of the money received by this country has to be repaid to any of the other Entente Powers; and, if so, can he state what proportion?
§ Sir R. HORNETwo hundred and two ex-enemy ships allotted to the British Empire for final ownership have been sold; 85 merchant ships and 22 trawlers still remain unsold. The gross amount realised is £14,523,074. From this gross total there falls to be deducted expenses of repair, delivery, etc., and a considerable part of the purchase money is payable in instalments over a period of years. The net cash at present received by the Treasury is £6,000,000, of which £5,499,619 13s. 2d. has been appropriated in aid of the Vote for Advances for German Coal Deliveries, 1920–21, and the balance of £500,380 6s. 10d. has been paid to the Exchequer on account of the cost of the Army of Occupation. No part of the above amount will, so far as can be foreseen, have to be repaid by this country to any other Allied Power.
§ Viscount CURZONHas any of these ships been re-sold to Germany?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am afraid I cannot tell at the moment.