§ Mr. THEODORE TAYLORasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office "whether the Army Contracts Department has claimed the right to seize wool 1986W and semi-manufactured wool already sold to and in some cases paid for by buyers in Allied and neutral countries, and which have lawfully passed into the ownership of people abroad; whether in one such case a Bradford firm held a large quantity of wool tops on behalf of a Swedish firm who had paid for them over a year ago; whether, by consent of the neutral owner, the wool tops were transferred to the British Government on the condition made with the local responsible British Government official that they should be replaced in the same quality and at the same price; and whether one month later this arrangement was repudiated by the Army Contracts Department in London?
§ Mr. FORSTERIn virtue of Regulations made under the Defence of the Realm Acts, the Army Council is empowered to take possession of stocks of wool and tops in the United Kingdom. I am advised that the question whether such stocks are owned by British subjects, Allies or neutrals is immaterial. I understand that in one such case, which is probably that referred to by my hon. Friend, the tops were, at the date on which possession was taken by the Army Council, held by a Bradford firm on behalf of a Swedish firm. I am, however, not fully informed of the circumstances of this particular case, and am making further inquiries on the subject. When I am in possession of the necessary information, I will communicate further with my hon. Friend.