asked the Minister of Supply why his Department sold 360 vehicles of various types in Germany at a lower price than that obtainable in this country; and what was the exact amount of the difference, including the cost of shipping.

Stores declared surplus abroad have usually been brought home for sale only when special needs and shortages have to be met. The average cost of returning heavy vehicles from depots in Germany to auction centres at home would be about £100 each. It is impossible to calculate the amount that would have been obtained by sale in this country.

Even so, does not the Minister realise that if he had brought them home he could have got a better price for them, and has not the right hon. Gentleman any regard at all for the overburdened taxpayers of this country?

It may be that if we had brought them home we would have got a better price. One could not tell that before the auction took place; it is not certain that we would have got a better price.