§ 22. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Air who were the purchasers of the river steamers, launches, steam boats, etc., recently sold in Iraq; what was the sum realised by the sale; and whether the whole sum realised accrues to His Majesty's Treasury?
§ Sir P. SASSOONAs regards the first part of the question, the vessels have been purchased by Lord Inchcape, acting on behalf of certain corporations operating in Iraq. As regards the second part, of the total sum paid for these and other stores included in a general sale, the amount allocated to the purchase of the 48 surplus vessels, mostly barges and small boats, is £10,000. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWas this considered to be the market price-only £10,000 for 48 barges and launches? That is less than the breakup price, surely?
§ Sir P. SASSOONWe got as much as we could for them and, as I said in my answer, they were mostly small vessels and barges; and the sum was only part of a larger sum.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYI am sorry to press this matter, but will the hon. Baronet see whether some arrangement could not have been made whereby we could have got some of the profits of running these steamers on the two rivers?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI do not think that arises out of the answer.
§ Sir F. WISEWhat was the date of the agreement?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI could not say offhand.
§ Sir P. SASSOONWe got the best price we could for them.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLIs it not a fact that the upkeep of these barges—anybody who knows anything about shipping property knows it—would have been much greater, and was it not in the interests of everybody concerned that they should be sold for the best price?
§ Sir P. SASSOONWe effected an economy by the action we took.