HC Deb 26 April 1922 vol 153 c553
42. Lieut.-Colonel NALL

asked the Secretary of State for War whether 100 locomotives built at Woolwich Arsenal at a cost of £16,000 each have been disposed of; whether these locomotives are required for Army purposes; and, if not, whether the sum of £1,600,000 thus expended will be shown as expenditure on armaments?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Lieut.-Colonel Sir R. Sanders)

These locomotives, which are not yet all completed, are estimated to cost £16,000 each and have been reported to the Disposal and Liquidation Commission for disposal. I am not aware that any have been sold. They are not required for Army purposes and the expenditure on them is not shown as expenditure on armaments.

Lieut.-Colonel NALL

Is it not the fact that this amount of money will be shown in the Army Votes, and is it not, therefore, to the public interest that these items should be included?

Sir R. SANDERS

No, Sir; this money has already been provided for. The whole object was discussed very thoroughly on the Estimates about six weeks ago.