§ Major ENTWISTLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether a number of barges commandeered by the Government during the War from the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Company have been sold by his Department to a private trader in London, who is now prepared to resell the barges to their original owners at a profit; why no intimation was given to the original owners that the barges were available for purchase; and if he is aware that as a consequence a considerable amount of traffic will be delayed owing to the inefficiency of the canal transport system?
Mr. J. HOPEI have made inquiries into this matter, but I cannot identify the barges in question. I would therefore ask the hon. and gallant Member to be so good as to furnish me with the names of the craft or other information which will enable me to ascertain with certainty the barges to which he refers.