§ 49. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many underground factories and dumps of war material have been discovered in Germany; and whether an active search is being made for others.
§ Mr. Mathers (Treasurer of the Household)I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend has no information as to the number of factories and war dumps discovered in Germany. In reply to the second part of the Question, active steps continue to be taken by the Commander-in-Chief of the Rhine Army to uncover such factories and dumps as have not already been discovered in the British zone. If the hon. Member would like to know what tonnage of armaments has already been destroyed, my hon. Friend will endeavour to provide the figures. It is the policy of His Majesty's Government to destroy or remove the whole of the German armament industry and this is being carried out.
§ 72. Captain Francis Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for War how many German captured vehicles, scheduled as unserviceable by his Department, are now held in British dumps in and around Athens; how long they have been there; and whether, in view of the shortage of transport in Greece and the inadequacy of military repair facilities, he will arrange to release these vehicles for sale at controlled prices on the local civilian market.
§ Mr. Lawson1,074, sent mainly from Crete during the last six months. As I have informed my hon. and gallant Friend by letter, any surplus captured vehicles are handed over for civilian use at once or after repair. Action is being taken to hand over unserviceable vehicles as well.