HC Deb 28 March 1922 vol 152 c1117
18 and 19. Viscount WOLMER

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether any losses have been incurred during 1919, 1920, and 1921 by the Navy and Army Canteen Board and the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes in other localities besides Ireland; if so, whether it is proposed to defray those losses out of public funds; if so, how much money will be required for the purpose; whether they will figure in the forthcoming Army Estimates;

(2) the amount of money lost in trading operations by the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes in Ireland; whether it is proposed to defray this loss out of public funds; and, if so, in what Estimates and under what heading will the Vote be placed?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

As the answer to these two questions is very long, I will, with my Noble Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

My Noble Friend will recollect that the Committee presided over by my hon. Friend the Member for the Ecclesall Division of Sheffield (Sir S. Roberts) recommended as follows: Where under abnormal conditions the organisation is unable to make both ends meet it should be indemnified from public funds. We understand that this principle has already been accepted in the case of the Forces in Ireland, and the operations in North Russia, have been instanced as another case where the same principle might well have been applied. As regards Ireland, not only is canteen trading at a profit impossible in that country at present, but the concentration of troops there has its reflection in the reduction of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes' trade in the larger garrisons in England, where, nevertheless, it is necessary to maintain premises and staffs to cater for the details remaining, and to be prepared for a return to normal conditions. But in our opinion, the principle to which we have referred must only be followed with extreme caution, after careful investigation of each case. Losses were incurred during 1919, 1920 and 1921 in North Russia and Iraq, but no payment from public funds in respect of them is anticipated. The losses in Ireland in respect of which, following the policy recommended by the Committee, a payment of £50,000 is about to be made, were about £68,000 in respect of the year 1920 only. No accounts are yet available for subsequent years and no decision to make any further payment has yet been taken. The appropriate heading in Army Estimates for any such payment is Head VI.