§ Mr LAWSONasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Road Board are purchasing stone from the 265W Purbeck Stone Company, Swanage, for roads at Bovington camp; that this firm's quarries are about 1½miles from the railway station; that the stone is conveyed part of the way by cart, then transferred into Army transport wagons to be taken to the station and put into railway wagons; whether he is aware that there is a large quantity of stone which belongs or belonged to the Government already quarried by quarrymen and German prisoners; that if this stone were utilised it could be conveyed direct in transport wagons to Wareham and Bovington camps; can he state the reason for buying stone from a private firm if the Government already have on hand sufficient quandtities of their own; whether he is aware that this stone has been sold by the authorities to the private firm and will have to be bought back again; and whether he will have close inquiry made into the matter?
§ Mr. NEALI understand that the Joint Roads Committee, which is under the sole control of the War Office, are purchasing the stone in question. The War Office are making inquiries into the matter, and will write to the hon. Member.