§ 82. Mr. INSKIPasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions how many motor vehicles awaiting repair are now collected at the Cippenham depot; at what rate it is estimated that they will be repaired; and what urgency there is which requires railway trucks to be used in bringing more motor vehicles on to the ground?
§ The DEPUTY-MINISTER Of MUNITIONS (Mr. Kellaway)Between 4,000 and 5,000 motor vehicles have been delivered to Cippenham, of which over 3,000 are awaiting repair or in process of being repaired. Vehicles are now being repaired at the rate of 100 a week. The rate of repair is 1943 increasing rapidly and, it is anticipated, will soon reach 100 a day. No railway wagons have been used for taking motor vehicles to Cippenham, but a number have been used for the conveyance of vehicles to the provinces for sale. Those vehicles had been removed from Kempton Park, where no facilities existed for their loading, and were in a condition which would not be remunerative to repair.
§ Sir R. COOPERHow is it that Just outside Slough station there is always a very large number of trucks with motor vehicles lying in the siding?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThat is answered in my reply to the main question, in which I say that "no railway wagons have been used for taking motor vehicles to Cippenham, but a number have been used for the conveyance of vehicles to the provinces for sale."
§ Mr. INSKIPIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the President of the Board of Trade is at his wits' end to obtain railway trucks for the conveyance of food?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYIf by repairing motor vehicles at Slough we can increase transport facilities, we shall help in that way.
An HON. MEMBERIs the hon. Gentleman aware that a good many railway trucks are being held up because the railway companies refuse to open their yards before eight o'clock, and that they close at five o'clock, so prevent unloading?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI was not aware of that. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put a question to the President of the Board of Trade.
§ 84. Mr. CHADWICKasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether his attention has been called to photographs which have recently appeared in the Press purporting to represent the present state of certain buildings at the Slough Motor Depot; and what action the Government proposes to take?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYYes, Sir, my attention has been called to a number of reproductions of photographs which appeared in the "Times" on Wednesday last. If these photographs purported to represent the present state of certain buildings at the Slough Motor Depot they were seriously misleading. They must have been taken some time ago. I am glad to say that the "Times" to-day publishes re- 1944 productions of photographs showing the present condition of the buildings. In these circumstances no further action appears to be called for.