HC Deb 11 July 1917 vol 95 cc1897-8
35. Mr. HOUSTON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the large number of high-powered motor cars still being used by military officers and others engaged with the various Departments of the War Office; and whether, in view of the alleged shortage of petrol in this country, definite instructions will be issued by the War Office prohibiting the use of these high-powered cars?

Mr. MACPHERSON

My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. I am informed that, with very few exceptions, the cars used by military officers and others engaged with the various departments of the War Office are not high-power cars. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.

Mr. HOUSTON

Will my hon. Friend take the precaution of seeing for himself, and then he will see that many of these cars are obviously being used for pleasure purposes?

Mr. HOGGE

If they are not the high-powered cars, what cars are they?

Mr. MACPHERSON

My information is that none of those cars have been used for pleasure purposes. If my hon. Friend can produce a case where that has been done I will certainly have them inquired into.

Mr. MacVEAGH

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether, at the recent by-election at Liverpool, he noticed that very high-powered cars were used, and they had no difficulty in obtaining petrol; and does he consider that that is work of national importance?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I can assure my hon. Friend that I did not see any military cars used at the by-election. So far as I am personally concerned, I used the 'bus.

Mr. BILLING

Is the hon. Member aware that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Board is constantly driving around London with a Service driver in a high-powered car?

Mr. MACPHERSON

If he is on Air Board business I do not see why he should not do that.

Mr. HOUSTON

Why cannot he use a lower-powered car?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I have yet to be assured that he does use a high-powered car; but if he is, and is using it on public business, he is quite justified in doing so.

Mr. BILLING

Does the hon. Gentleman know that a skilled air mechanic was driving him last Saturday, and would that mechanic not have been better employed turning out aeroplanes to repel German air raids?