§ 34. Sir F. WISEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate cost of the China Expeditionary Force to as near a date as possible; and what is the approximate cost per week at the present time?
5. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Secretary of State for War the cost up to the latest convenient date of the Shanghai Defence Corps and any other special force serving in China?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe additional cost to Army funds of the Shanghai Defence Force up to 31st March last is estimated at £950,000, as explained in the Supplementary Esti-Estimate. I am not yet in a position to give the total additional cost of the Shanghai Defence Force up to a date 660 later than 31st March, but the balance of the transport charges incurred before that date but payable in the current financial year is £300,000, and the cost of the transport of the additional troops recently despatched to China is estimated at £250,000. I regret that I am unable to give a weekly figure of cost for the Force.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODSurely the right hon. Gentleman must have formed some estimate of the monthly cost of keeping this large force in Shanghai; hut if he cannot give us an idea, perhaps the Chancellor of the Exchequer is able to answer what the expedition is costing per month?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIt is not possible to give an accurate statement of what the weekly or monthly cost is, but in a very short time I shall be able to give the total cost to the end of this month if the right hon. and gallant Member will put down another question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWe do not ask for an exact statement; what we are asking is, has the right hon. Gentleman formed any estimate of the monthly cost of this expedition to China?
§ Mr. W. THORNESurely the Secretary of State for War must know from the Treasury the amount they are paying out month by month or week by week?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI know what I am paying out month by month, but that would only be misleading if given to the House without taking into account the liabilities which are being incurred.
§ Mr. HARRISWhen these figures are being arrived at, are any calculations made as to the extra men enrolled in England to take the places of the men who have gone to China? Am I right in assuming that extra men are enlisted?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNo, the hon. Member is not right in assuming that—except so far as the A reserve is concerned.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEAre we to take it from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that, when a force is sent overseas, the War Office make no estimate whatever of the probable cost for each month of its absence?
§ Sir L WORTHINGTON-EVANSHon. Members must realise that in obtaining accommodation—for example—for troops at Shanghai or elsewhere, it is impossible to make any accurate estimate in advance. I can, of course, tell the House what the actual expenditure is, but to do so, without taking account of the liabilities which are being incurred, would be merely to mislead the House.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENHas the Minister made any estimate of what the loss would have been if we had not sent out this force?
§ 6. Mr. KELLY (for Mr. ROBINSON)asked the Secretary of State for War whether the wives of the men in regiments at present in China have been asked to leave the married quarters in the barracks where the regiments were previously stationed?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON - EVANSInstructions have been issued that, so far as possible, the families are to be left undisturbed, but in seine cases they have had to leave their quarters to make way, for example, for the families of relieving units. In such cases, the outgoing families have either made their own arrangements and been, granted lodging allowance, or, if they prefer, have been found alternative quarters.