19. Colonel NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the total number of barracks, the property of the Crown, that under the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act have been handed over to the Southern Ireland Ministry of Defence, together with the number of camps and training grounds such as the Curragh and Kilworth; and has he now been able to form a rough estimate of the value of such buildings and of the acreage and value of the training camps?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNo barracks, camps or training grounds have yet been transferred, but as evacuation proceeds a number of properties are being placed in the hands of the Provisional Government for custody pending settlement as to which of them shall be formally taken over, and on what terms.
Colonel NEWMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the other day the Curragh was taken over, and that Kilworth was taken over months ago, and does he say that these great properties, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, have been handed over without provision for repayment?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI mean exactly what my answer says, that they have been placed in the hands of the Provisional Government for custody, 982 pending settlement as to which of them shall be formally taken over, and on what terms.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON EVANSThen my hon. and gallant Friend had better repeat his question.