§ Sir J. HOODasked the Minister of Health whether he has cancelled, or arranged to cancel, any contracts for bricks and other building materials; whether any and, if so, what sums have been paid, or agreed to be paid, in respect of such cancellations; and whether he considered the alternative of offering the bricks and other materials for sale in the open market?
§ Sir A. MONDA large number of contracts for bricks and other materials have been cancelled, and compensation amounting approximately to £220,000 has been paid, or been agreed to be paid, in respect of outstanding commitments under the contracts. So far as materials already manufactured and purchased are concerned, the Department has either arranged with the manufacturers to repurchase them at a valuation, or, if this has not for any reason been possible, has handed them over for sale to the Disposal and Liquidation Commission in accordance with the general arrangements for the disposal of surplus Government property.