§ Sir AYLMER HUNTER-WESTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the country of the Disposal Board during the last 12 months; what has been the cost of the upkeep and maintenance of the Gretna factory during the same period; what has been the amount received from the sale of the plant and other effects at the Gretha factory from the 1st January, 1922; and what has been the total cost of the sale of such plant and other effects since the 1st January, 1922, including advertisement, commission, and all other charges?
§ Mr. BALDWINAs regards the first part of my hon. Friend's question, the approximate expenditure incurred by the Disposal Board during the last twelve months is £2,600,000. A large proportion of this expenditure was, however, incurred on other than the sale of surplus property and stores. For example, large expenditure has been incurred on reinstatement of land used during the War, dumping and destruction of poison gas shell, cleaning of poison gas factories, breaking down of ammunition, and transport generally, including transport of ammunition to suitable places for breaking down. The cost of the upkeep and the maintenance of Gretna Factory during the last twelve months has been approximately £27,000, but revenues were received of approximately £20,000. The approximate amount received for the sale of plant, etc., at Gretna from the 1st January last is £250,000. The answer to the last portion of the question is that the sale expenses referred to were approximately 5 per cent, of the realised prices.