§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for War a list of the amounts of goods in the dump at Newbury racecourse and appoint a committee of inquiry, presided over by an independent legal chairman, at which evidence can be taken on oath and to report to this House and to recommend disciplinary action for those concerned with this wastage.
§ Mr. LawsonThe dump on Newbury racecourse belongs to the U.S. Army. The taking over of the vast majority of the stores by His Majesty's Government is at present under negotiation; meanwhile the stores remain the property of the U.S. Army. A certain quantity of stores which were originally supplied by His Majesty's Government to the U.S. Government under Reciprocal Aid have already been taken over. These are being cleared to permanent Army storage depots as quickly as the transport situation permits, but they are not such as will deteriorate seriously through being kept in the open. I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by a committee of inquiry.