§ Mr. L. SCOTTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that until recently there was a very well-built and equipped camp accommodating about 1,400 men, all the huts being on concrete blocks, on the west side of Bidston Hill, near Birkenhead; that this camp was recently dismantled and taken up, including the concrete foundations, and the equipment removed; that the military authorities have now again requisitioned the site for use as a camp for German prisoners of war and are now engaged in rebuilding it; and whether he 2545W will give full particulars of the causes of this waste of public money and see that those responsible are held to blame?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONOwing to the difficulty in obtaining supplies of new hutting, it became necessary in August last to transfer some of the sectional hutting at Bidston to provide accommodation for American troops. Recently, at the urgent request of the National Union of Railwaymen, it was decided to give up the occupation of the Convalescent Home at Leasowe Castle belonging to the union. To enable this to be done, it is necessary to transfer a number of German prisoners of war, and as there was no other accommodation available for them, it was considered that the most economical arrangement was to use what was left of Bidston Camp and provide additional accommodation required by the erection of some hutting which was available.