§ Mr. MARRIOTTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the sanction of the Treasury has been obtained to any proposal to utilise national factories or arsenals for the manufacture of railway wagons; and, if so, what is the estimated cost of converting and equipping such factories and arsenals and the estimated cost of the proposal; and on what Vote such expenditure is shown?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am informed that the manufacture of railway wagons for certain railway companies has been undertaken by the Ministry of Munitions at, Woolwich. As no capital expenditure is involved, and the work is being done as a temporary arrangement on terms which involve no loss to public funds, Treasury sanction was not required.
§ Mr. MANVILLEasked -the Minister of Transport whether an order for railway wagons has been placed with Woolwich Arsenal; if so, by whom and at what date was the order placed; what was the amount of the order; and whether it was placed at a fixed price or on what basis?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI have been asked to answer this question. Two orders for railway wagons have been placed at Woolwich Arsenal by the Ministry. One order for 2,000 wagons for the North Eastern Railway Company on the 31st July, and the other for 500 wagons for the Great Western Railway Company on 28th July, 1919. Both orders were accepted from the railway companies at fixed prices.