§ Lieutenant-Colonel Sir S. HOAREasked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry whether German prisoners have been, or are now, employed in dismantling and scrapping aeroplanes at Cove Camp, Farnborough; whether many of these planes are new planes; if so, why they are being dismantled; and whether some of the planes so dealt with are still in their factory wrappings, and some which have been used could easily be repaired?
§ Major-General SEELYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. A certain number of new machines have been reduced to produce at Farnborough. They are all of types which are obsolete for present purposes and for which there was no prospect of profitable disposal. No standard machines which it would have been economical to repair have been thus dealt with. I have satisfied myself, after careful inquiry, that the cost to the State of dealing with these machines in this way is less than that of housing and maintaining them with a view to sale.