HC Deb 08 March 1923 vol 161 cc720-2
74. Mr. SHINWELL

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the buildings at the Georgetown munitions depot have been disposed of and what price has been received for the same; whether any lots of material have been disposed of recently and the price received; whether intimation was given to contractors that sales were about to take place; and if they had the opportunity of quoting either for the buildings or material?

Mr. BALDWIN

Scales of buildings and materials have recently been made at this depot. The buildings were disposed of by private treaty. They represented a portion only of those at Georgetown, and the offer made was, on the basis of the valuation for sale, a satisfactory one. As it was signed by a person who had been connected with the Department, it was thought right that the case should he specially considered by the Disposal Board who, after taking all the circumstances into account, approved the decision. The materials were sold by public auction after the usual advertisement. It is not considered desirable in the public interest to disclose prices paid and the names of firms purchasing, and I regret that I am unable to make an exception in the present case.

Mr. SHINWELL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that considerable controversy has been caused among contractors in this class of business by the sale of the buildings and the lots of material referred to and the right of the Department to dispose of material and buildings by private treaty, having regard to the fact that the Board offered to consider quotations from contractors?

Mr. BALDWIN

I am aware of the fact that it was because of the facts to which the hon. Member has alluded that the matter was considered by a full meeting of the Disposal Board.

Mr. SHINWELL

Is it not in the public interest that the prices paid for lots of material and buildings should be divulged?

Mr. BALDWIN

I do not think that it is. If the hon. Member had experience of trying to sell large parts of real estate, he would find himself very often hampered by making disclosures of this kind.

Sir JAMES REMNANT

When these sales are completed, will the right hon. Gentleman give the information, considering that the taxpayers of the country, as they paid for these things, ought to know?

Mr. BALDWIN

That is another question. I will consider that. But, of course, it would mean a shelf full of volumes.