§ Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre93, 94 and 95. asked the Minister of Supply, (1) the total value of surplus war stores in Italy held by his Department on 31st December, 1945, and 31st July, 1946, respectively; (2) the total value of surplus war stores in Italy transferred to U.N.R.R.A., to the Italian Government, and bought by British firms for export, respectively; (3) what arrangements exist to ensure that British firms wishing to acquire surplus war stores in Italy for export receive adequate information of the stores available and facilities for purchase.
§ Mr. WilmotMy Department does not hold surplus war stores in Italy. Under the agreement concluded with the Italian Government in September, 1945, all British Government surpluses remaining in Italy, after the satisfaction of legitimate prior claims, are handed over to the Italian Government, and this is done by the holding Services. The value of transfers recorded up to 31st August last, which is the latest date for which figures are at present available, were £2,000,000 to U.N.R.K.A. and approximately £5,000,000 to the Italian Government. No sales have been made to British firms for export. A British firm wishing to buy for export would have to make its purchases from the Italian Selling Agency, which issues full and detailed catalogues of the stores being offered for sale.