§ Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Prime Minister if he will furnish a Return stating 910W the total numbers of men enrolled in the British forces during the War in the United Kingdom, the Dominions, the Colonies, and India; how many of these men were killed and wounded; what was the total cost of the British Empire participation in the War; how much of such cost was raised by taxation, direct and indirect, and how much was borrowed abroad; how much money was lent to France, to Italy, and to our other Allies; the value and tonnage of our mercantile marine lost during the War; how many lives were lost at sea by enemy action; the cost to date of war pensions, and an estimate of our future pension liabilities; the cost to Britain of the mandates she is exercising or has exercised over former enemy countries; any other expenditure of life or treasure incurred as a result of our participation in the War; and will he state the value credited for German shipping and colonies assigned to the British Empire in the name of reparations?
§ Mr. BALDWIN:I am afraid that the compilation of a complete return on the lines of the question would involve prolonged labour and considerable expense, as it would be necessary to obtain elaborate information from the Dominions and India. I append such figures as are available. As regards most of the questions, it will be seen that the information given relates to the United Kingdom, and not to the whole Empire.
I.—British Empire Casualties. — Men Enrolled. Killed. Wounded. United Kingdom. 6,211,427 743,702 1,693,262 Dominions and Colonies. 1,605,527 140,923 357,785 India 1,679,416 61,398 70,859 Total 9,496,370 946,023 2,121,906 II.—Expenditure during the War by the United Kingdom.
The figures are only available for complete financial years. The Exchequer issues between 1st April, 1914, and 31st 911W March, 1919, were £9,590,000,000, and the money was raised approximately as follows:
£ From direct taxation 1,820,000,000 From indirect taxation and other sources of revenue 910,000,000 By borrowing at home 5,500,000,000 By borrowing abroad 1,360,000,000
III.—War Loans to Allies and Dominions (excluding Relief and other post-War Loans). Capital only Capital and unpaid interest to31.2.22 £ £ To France 453,000,000 584,000,000 Italy 382,000,000 503,000,000 Other Allies 659,000,000 841,000,000 Dominions 150,000,000 150,000,000 Total 1,644,000,000 2,078,000,000 IV.—Losses at Sea(British Empire).
- (a) Value of shipping (at about £70 a ton) and cargoes lost by enemy action, £750,000,000.
- (b) Tonnage of shipping (at about £70 a ton) and cargoes lost by enemy action, 8,000,000 gross tons.
- (c) Civilian lives lost at sea by enemy action, 22,000.
V.—War Pensions (United Kingdom). (a) Expenditure from 1st August, 1914, to 31st March, 1923 (partly estimated) £470,000,000 (b) Estimated capital liability from 1st April,1923 £832,000,000
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VI—Expenditure on Mandated Territories. Expenditure from Parliamentary Votes from 1st April, 1919, to 31st March, 1923 (partly estimated) £153,000,000
VII.—Any other Expenditure resulting from British participation in War. Some important items of expenditure by the United Kingdom, which appear to fall under this description are: Unemployment. Expenditure— partly estimated between 1 April, 1919, and. 31 March, 1923. £ (Total Expenditure by the State and Local Authorities, including existing commitments) 400,000,000 Housing. (Total capital cost to the State and Local Authorities of the houses erected under the Assisted Housing Scheme an d Private Builders' Subsidy) 225,000,000 Liquidation of War Commitments. Railway and Canal Agreements 203,000,000 Ministries of Munitions and Shipping 36,500,000 Compensation for Damage by Enemy Action 5,000,000 Coal Mines Deficiencies 48,000,000 Bread Subsidy 101,500,000 Relief and Reconstruction and other Post-War Loans. (Capital and interest due on 31st March, 1922) 33,000,000 Occupation of Constantinople 20,000,000 VIII.—Amount credited to Germany and debited to the British Empire on Reparation account in respect al merchant shipping.
1,852,413 gross tons valued at 249,704,000 gold marks, or at 20 gold marks to £1, about £12,485,000.
(A further debit will be made against Series "C" bonds in accordance with Article 6 of the Spa Agreement and Article 12 of the Agreement of 11th March, 1922.)
IX.—No German Colonies have been assigned to the British Empire. State pro- 913W perty in mandated territories passes without payment to the Government exercising authority in those territories under Article 120 of the Treaty of Versailles.