§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Munitions whether he will furnish the House with a full and detailed statement of the expenditure by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) of public money in the acquisition of licensed properties, such statement to contain particulars of each brewery and licensed house purchased, the price paid in each instance, and the cost of alterations, maintenance, and administration since the completion of the purchases?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI am advised that it would be contrary to the public interest to publish the detailed information asked for by my hon. Friend. Subject to audit, it may be estimated that after meeting all the usual trading charges, the annual return on the total capital commitments of the Central Control Board's direct control undertakings has been on the scale of about 15 per cent., or alternatively, if the total cost of reconstruction is charged to revenue, the return on the capital engaged will be about 10 per cent.