Captain TERRELLasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the approximate values of undisposed surplus stock in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Mesopotamia, and Palestine; and what steps are being taken to dispose of it?
§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERThe Disposal and Liquidation Commission have no surplus stock undisposed of in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy or Turkey. In Mesopotamia there are still surplus stocks, consisting mainly of boats of the river fleet and of fixed assets, such as electric installations, which are not being purchased by the Iraq Government. Their 1079W value is approximately half a million pounds. In Palestine the Commission have still a small quantity of material, mainly railway stores, to dispose of. The exact quantity which will ultimately be for disposal to the public cannot be stated at present, as it depends on the quantities to be purchased by the Palestine Government for use on the railways. There are officials of the Disposal and Liquidation Commission in Mesopotamia and in Palestine, and steps are being taken to finish sales at the earliest possible date. I would add that surpluses declared after the 31st March will be sold, not by the Disposal and Liquidation Commission, but direct by the War Office, Admiralty, Air Ministry and other Departments to whom the stores belong.