Sir W. PRESTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade what was the total cost of the Disposal Board during 1921 and 1922 to date; how much their sales realised during these periods; and can he name a date by which the Disposal Board will be finally wound up?
§ Mr. BALDWINAs regards the sales made by the Disposal Board, I would refer my hon. Friend to Command Paper 1640, presented to Parliament in June last, which gives details of the sales and cash receipts, from the Armistice to 31st March last. I regret that it is not possible to give figures to date, as disposals are taking place in a number of oversea1786W areas, such as Iraq, India and Egypt. A White Paper showing the results for the current financial year will, it is hoped, be published about June next. As regards the expenses of the Disposal Board, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. and gallant Member for Bute and North Ayrshire (Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston). With reference to the last portion of the question, the position is that there is still under the charge of the Disposal Board a very considerable amount of surplus. Government property. Every effort is being made to dispose of it as rapidly as is consistent with the public interest. In view of the progress made, it has been decided, in the interests of economy, that the Disposal Board shall, at the 31st March next, cease to function as a separate Board under the Disposal and Liquidation Commission. From that date arrangements will be made by the Disposal and Liquidation Commission direct for the sale of any remaining surplus assets on their hands and the completion of the deliveries of stores under block and other contracts. I may add that this decision was taken by my predecessor on the recommendation of the Disposal and Liquidation Commission.