§ 11. Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the amount of Government surplus textile materials still held by the Government; the amounts which have been disposed of; and the estimated amount passed on to the trade but still on the market?
Mr. GRAHAMI have been asked to answer this question. All surplus Government textiles formerly in the hands of the Disposal Board have been sold. I regret that separate figures of the sales of textiles are not available, and that with the depleted clerical staff it is not possible to undertake this compilation. The total sales of textiles, leather and equipment from the Armistice up to 30th June amounted to £32,404,900. I have no information with regard to the last part of the question.
§ Mr. HANNONCan the hon. Gentleman give an approximate figure of the loss to the taxpayer on this transaction?
§ Mr. MAXTONDo we understand the hon. Gentleman to say that his staff is too small to put through the necessary work of his Department?
Mr. GRAHAMNo, that is not implied. The reply is that we have not the staff to undertake a detailed investigation of this kind.