§ Major BREESEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether large dumps of British railway material are situated at Audruicq and Aire in France; how long have these dumps been in existence; what is the approximate value of the material at each; and what proportion of the total stores has been disposed of since the Armistice at these two places?
Mr. HOPEThe depot at Audruicq was formed in 1915, and at the date of the Armistice it contained 100,000 tons of stores, exclusive of plant; since the Armistice 180,000 tons of materials have come into the depot and 190,000 tons have gone out. Of the whole of the plant and stores declared surplus to military requirements from time to time at this depot, about 40 per cent. have been disposed of. The depot at Aire was formed in 1917, and at the date of the Armistice contained approximately 3,400 tons of 1989W material, to which must be added 12,000 their tons returned to store since the Armistice. About 35 per cent. of the surplus stores at Aire have been disposed of, and the bulk of the remainder is being brought back to this country as quickly as possible. In view of the fact that tenders have already been invited for a portion of the surplus stores at Audruicq, and that it is proposed to advertise the remainder for sale at an early date, it would not be in the interest of the Revenue to give an estimate of the value of the materials.