§ Major GLYNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether, with the exception of a small percentage, all British stores in France and Belgium thrown up by the military authorities to the Disposals Board have either been sold or are in process of being brought home for disposal or to supplement reserve stocks held in this country; whether he can state the approximate sum of money obtained by the sale of these stores remaining overseas, including railways; and how this sale compares with estimates made in February, 1919?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe total sales of British stores, animals, etc., in France and Belgium since the Armistice amount to approximately £50,000,000 sterling. Of these, a considerable proportion, including stores lying in the front army areas and in the arrondisements of Calais and Dunkirk, railway linesin situ, and huts in various parts of France, have been sold to the French Government and are in process of being taken over by that Government. The same applies to large quantities of railway material, barges, etc., sold to the Belgian Government. The total sales represent more than three-fifths of the surpluses reported for disposal. About £15,000,000 worth of surplus stores have been brought home from France and Belgium since the Armistice for sale in this country. In addition to these surplus stores, it is understood that the War Office have removed from France about £80,000,000 worth of stores to supplement reserve stocks held for the Army. The transfer of the stores Bold to the French Government has been a slower process than was expected, but it is hoped that this will now be accelerated.