104. Mr. Baker Whiteasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, during the dismantling of W.D. property at Heppington House, near Canterbury, glazed sinks, in perfect condition and suitable for civilian use, were smashed with heavy hammers and loaded on to lorries; that a tank in the wash-house, standing on a timber frame, was thrown 15 feet to the ground and smashed; that the frame of four-inch by two-inch timber, much needed by country builders, was smashed and given away as firewood; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the destruction of useful building material now in short supply.
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§ Mr. LawsonBefore this house was de-requisitioned a number of fittings were removed by the War Department. There were five sinks; one of these was already broken in half and was left on the site; another was badly damaged and on inspection was found to be beyond repair, so was broken up in the R.E. yard. The remaining three are in good condition and are in store. There were three tanks, all of which were carefully dismantled and lowered. These have also been returned to store. The timber frame supporting one of these tanks was not removed from the site at the time because there was no transport available to take it away without dismantling and the timber was in short lengths which were not required for immediate use. On the facts of this case as reported to me there does not appear to have been any unnecessary destruction of useful building material.