§ 34 and 42. Sir Robert Youngasked the Secretary of State for War (1), in what way the grant of £10,000 from the proceeds of the last Aldershot Tattoo to the Eastern Command Trust has been or will be used; and, seeing that the grant was made for the services rendered by the troops of that Command, will the said troops in any way be directly benefited; and, if so, in what way;
(2), whether since, arising out of the last Aldershot Tattoo, £18,000 was distributed by the trustees of the Eastern Command Trust to service charities and for recreational facilities, he will state how much was allocated for each purpose and what service charities benefited?
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Duff Cooper)The grant is administered by the trustees and is used for the benefit of the troops, and their wives and families, in the Command. The benefits take the form of increased recreational and welfare facilities and of the assistance which is derived from service charities 746 receiving grants. As regards the last part of question No. 42, these are charitable and non-public funds, for the administration of which I am not responsible, and the information asked for is not available in my Department.
§ 39. Sir R. Youngasked the Secretary of State for War what is the total amount of the reserve fund built up from moneys contributed from the Aldershot Tattoo; what is the purpose of this fund; and whether, and how, it is invested?
§ Mr. CooperThe reserve fund now stands, I am informed, at a figure of £15,000. Its object is to enable the Command Trust to meet possible losses on the Tattoo and to continue to make grants, though possibly of a reduced amount, to beneficiary charities in any year the Tattoo fails to show a profit. The information asked for in the last part of the question is not available in my Department.
§ Mr. Lees-SmithHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the question whether it is now worth while to divert the troops from their training and other duties for the purpose of this entertainment and the quite small sum which accrues from it?
§ Mr. CooperI have taken that question into consideration, though I think the right hon. Gentleman will agree that it hardly arises out of the question on the Paper. We are satisfied that the purpose which this entertainment sets out to fulfil is one of military importance, and that the troops who take part in it are not wasting their time.
§ Sir R. YoungCan the right hon. Gentleman tell me where I can get the information which is not available in his Department?
§ Mr. CooperThe hon. Gentleman might apply to the Eastern Command Trust Fund; or, if he thinks it important, I could perhaps obtain the information. I only wish to emphasise that I am not responsible for the way in which this money is spent, as it comes under a charitable trust fund for which the Department is not responsible. If, however, the hon. Gentleman wishes to have this information, I will do my best to, obtain it.
§ Sir R. YoungWhy should this tattoo, which is of a military character, be in the hands of anyone but the military authorities of the country?
§ Mr. CooperIt is under the Charity Commissioners in the last resort, but the funds are distributed by military people. It is a result of military activities; it does not come to the Exchequer; it is a purely charitable fund; and I think it is better that it should be distributed on that basis rather than form part of the revenues of the War Office.