§ 48. Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Prime Minister what Department is responsible for the accumulation of Government motor cars at Kempton Park and other depots; what percentage of these cars has been disposed of since the Armistice, including deliveries to which the Government is committed under existing contracts, and how many cars are now in stock; whether he is aware that they are daily depreciating in value; and when and by what means they are to be realised?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe War Office is responsible for all Army mechanical transport vehicles at Kempton Park, and certain other depots. The vehicles are collected from all Government Departments, and after being sorted, classified by makes, etc., they are handed over to the Surplus Government Property Disposal Board at the Ministry of Munitions for disposal I am informed that the motor cars thus put forward for disposal to date amount to just under 17 per cent., and that about 30 per cent. of these have actually been disposed of, while a further 394 cars, which are ready for disposal, will be sold by auction in due course after full publicity. Auctions are being held at as frequent intervals as possible. The number of cars in stock at the depots under the War Office is 3,362, including current deliveries of new vehicles. I have no doubt a good deal of depreciation is taking place in this and other Government stores. Every effort will be made to accelerate disposals.
§ Major E. WOODCan the right hon. Gentleman state whether it is proposed to move any of these cars to the depot at Slough?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think that it is quite possible the same may be moved to Slough, but that is getting on to a subject which is really better suited to Debate.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHAre these cars being preserved, even though they are getting into a state of deterioration, in order that they may be moved to Slough and thus justify the Slough experiment?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am sure that my hon. Friend does not believe that it is as bad as all that.
§ Mr. BILLINGMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been called to the photographs in the public Press showing the conditions at Kempton Park; whether they are true, and, if so, what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI know that some of the conditions at Kempton Park are deplorable, and that some of these cars are up to their axles in mud. One of the reasons it is proposed to move some of them to Slough, so I am advised, is that they can stand there under better conditions.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWill Slough be put up before these cars are put up for auction?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not think that I had better go into that matter now.