§ 62. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he can give any recent instances of sales of Government property abroad, detailing the prices obtained by the sale as compared with the amount paid upon purchase?
§ Major Sir HARRY BARNSTON (Comptroller of the Household—for the FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS)With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIs it not a fact—it is only fair to the officials of this Department to ask—that they have made many good bargains for this country in all parts of the world?
§ Following is the reply:
§ Sales of British Government properties abroad are comparatively infrequent, but 1531 the following are the chief instances which have occurred in recent years:
| Cost. | |
| £ | |
| Kobe Consulate.—Half the site sold in 1919 for £38,835 | 1,700 |
| Osaka Consulate.—Sold in 1920 for £23,000 | 7,119 |
| Bangkok Legation.—Greater portion of site sold in 1922 for £117,000 in cash, and a site valued at £11,000 | 6,650 |
| Washington Embassy.—Sold in 1924 for $500,000 (£102,607) | 33,663 |
| Shanghai Post Office.—Sold in 1924 for £44,000 | 9,607 |
| Shanghai Gaol.—Sold in 1925 For £46,300 | 27,337 |