§ Mr. HAYDAYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the heavy expenditure incurred in the building construction of the Ordnance Depot, Hilsea Lines, Portsmouth, he will state the reason for the removal of various stores, i.e., camp equipment, etc., to Didcot; and the comparative cost of the upkeep of the two establishments?
§ Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYI am not aware what particular transfer of stores the hon. Member has in mind, but the character of the two depots is quite different, the Central Ordnance Depot at Didcot being much larger and holding much greater reserves than Hilsea, which is maintained principally for local transactions and for holding mobilisation equipment. No doubt, therefore, any stores transferred to Didcot were surplus to the requirements for which Hilsea is maintained. I am not yet in a position to give the figures asked for in the last part of the question, but I will communicate further with the hon. Member in due course.