§ 17. Viscount WOLMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has seen the balance sheet of the Expeditionary Force Canteens, drawn up as on the 31st August, 1920, and the remarks of the auditors of the balance sheet, Messrs. Maxwell Hicks and Company, in the Press on 7th January, 1921; and whether he will consent to publish the balance sheet?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative.
§ Viscount WOLMERCan the right hon. Gentleman say why he wishes to conceal the facts in this matter?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI have no desire whatever to conceal anything, and the Noble Lord has no right to make such an insinuation.
§ Viscount WOLMERWhy does not the right hon. Gentleman publish this balance sheet, if he does not wish to conceal it?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI have told the Noble Lord on previous occasions that this balance sheet is not a balance sheet which gives sufficient of the facts not to be misleading.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhy do you not publish what facts there are?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYWill my right hon. Friend publish a balance sheet that does show the facts?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI do not know whether my hon. and gallant Friend remembers, but I have said over and over again that balance sheets are being prepared which will show the full facts, and as soon as I have them I will publish them.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYWhy should there be two years' delay?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSSurely my hon. and gallant Friend knows that in the realisation of these stocks a considerable amount of time has been taken, and the values put on them at one period do not represent the values actually received after realisation. These accounts are very intermixed and intricate, and are being got out.
§ Viscount WOLMER rose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis discussion is becoming a debate.