§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, at the date of the sale of Slough to Sir Percival Perry, the price to be paid to the Government for the land had not been fixed; at what value was it then estimated; and what was the actual price ultimately paid for it?
Mr. YOUNGThe price paid to the Government for the Slough Depot was an inclusive one, covering land, buildings, etc., and no separate figure was stated for the land.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what 246W has been the total expenditure by the Government on the Slough estate since 9th April, 1920?
Mr. YOUNGThe approximate expenditure incurred on completing the factory buildings, plant, etc., from 1st April, 1920, has been £330,000, as against an estimated probable expenditure of £350,000.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the average amount received by the Government in respect of motor vehicles sold to the Slough Depot since the Armistice?
Mr. YOUNGI am not clear what is the figure desired by my hon. Friend. A sum of £3,650,000 was inserted in the contract for the sale of Slough in respect of vehicles and spare parts, and in addition the Government is entitled to receive a share of the receipts above a certain figure: the amount falling to be paid under this head is not yet known. These vehicles are of innumerable descriptions and a large number of them in various conditions of incompleteness. Even if it were practicable to obtain and collate full information as regards every vehicle or portion of a vehicle from the many parts of the world in which they have been handed over, I do not see how one could arrive at an average figure which had any significance.