Mr. Mcdlandasked the Minister of Supply the value of the surplus stores taken over from the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force; what proportion of such stores will be offered to local authorities for public use; and whether they will be offered to local authorities at the same price as was paid for them by the British Government.
§ Mr. WoodburnThe U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force surpluses were handed over in partial consideration of the payment of the net amount of $532,000,000 by His Majesty's Government in final settlement of wartime claims between this country and the U.S. Government. Local authorities will have the same priority for their requirements as they have for stores of British origin. Under the general agreement between His Majesty's Government and the U.S. Government the matter was dealt with on the basis of an overall deal. No exact prices were fixed for individual items, and the varied nature of the stores requires that they should be disposed of in the manner best suited to each type.