§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of 1688W Munitions whether the Ministry has advertised a sale of plant to take place at the Ailsa Craig Works, Chiswick, on the 20th instant; whether included in this sale are articles actually necessary to the restarting of work and the re-employment of the employés of this company, such re-instatement having been guaranteed in a Government statement to the effect that the company would be placed in a position to resume business and to re-employ their old employés; and whether he is aware that a proportion of the tools and material to be included in this proposed sale were actually purchased by the company and in the possession of the company before the outbreak of war?
Mr. HOPEThe Ministry of Munitions has advertised a sale of plant to take place on the 20th instant, at the Ailsa Craig Factory, Chiswick (now being transferred to the Labour Ministry for the purpose of a Training Centre for ex-service men). The items included in that sale are the property of the Ministry. If any of such items were originally the property of the Ailsa Craig Motor Company, Limited, they became or remained vested in the Ministry under the terms of an agreement dated the 4th December, 1919, and made between that company and the Ministry, and all other necessary parties. I am not aware of any Government statement of the nature or to the effect indicated in the latter part of the quesion.
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that an independent firm of valuers has assessed the material damage to the works of the Ailsa Craig Company at Chiswick at a sum of £11,155 7s. 6d.: that a great deal of this damage is due to improper arrangements made for the preservation and safeguarding of the buildings and their contents by the local managers in charge; whether any steps have been taken to refund this money to the Ailsa Craig Company; and whether any inquiry will be held into the removal of plant under the direction of responsible officials?
Mr. HOPEI have no knowledge of the assessment referred to, or by whom, or for what purpose it has been obtained. The whole of the matters in difference between 1689W the Ministry of Munitions and the Ailsa Craig Motor Company, Limited, were finally settled by an agreement dated the 4th December, 1919, and made between that Company and the Ministry and all other necessary parties. I am not prepared to reopen the matter.