HC Deb 03 April 1928 vol 215 cc1803-4W
Mr. COVE

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his Department has recently disposed of a quantity of officers' highland brogue shoes; and, if so, the price of such shoes when purchased by the Department and the disposal price?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

No officers' shoes have been disposed of. A sale was, however, recently made of a number of highland shoes which were originally purchased for issue during the War to other ranks. As regards the last part of the question, it would be con- trary to established practice to disclose contract prices.

Mr. COVE

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of boots and shoes disposed of by his Department and the reasons for such disposal; whether they were sold by private treaty or disposed of by sending them to one or more of the principal auctioneers; and what was the contracting price per pair and also the disposal price per pair?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

Since 1st April, 1923, when the War Department took over the sale of surplus Army stocks from the Disposal and Liquidation Commission, approximately 200,000 pairs of boots and 27,500 pairs of shoes have been sold. The boots and shoes, which were made of war-time material, were found unfit for Army requirements. They were sold by competitive tendering. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my previous reply.