Mr. EDWARDSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the Government has in its possession 50,000 civilian suits of clothes and 90,000 civilian overcoats; if so, what steps he intends to take to have these articles placed upon the market so as to make them available for use during the coming winter; and whether he will consider allotting them to the poorer districts to be disposed of at a price to cover cost and reasonable expenses for retailing them?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe Disposal Board has received notifications of 421,000 civilian suits of clothes and 90,000 civilian overcoats as available for sale. Invitations to tender for these have been widely advertised, and tenders are returnable today and to-morrow. If suitable prices are offered the clothing will be disposed of forthwith. I may mention that the suits in question are principally out-sizes. For reasons which I have previously given, it is impracticable to arrange for the retail sale of surplus Government property.