37. Mr. G. LOCKER LAMPSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether any estimate has been made of the total cost of the proposed subsidy of motor lorries in the event of their being required for purposes of war?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThe proposal under consideration is to subsidise vehicles sufficient only to provide for the mobilisation of a small force, in place of acquiring and maintaining in store a number of idle lorries; and the necessary provision for a beginning to be made in the current financial year was included in the Estimates. I have, however, already undertaken that nothing will be spent until the Vote on Account for Army for 1921–22 has been taken. The cost for that year would be £38,000. I take this opportunity of explaining that a similar scheme was in operation before the War; and that the forms to which reference was made last week were merely forms of enquiry, sent out after conferences at which the scheme had been discussed with representative makers and owners of vehicles, in order to ascertain whether the necessary numbers of vehicles would be tendered in the event of the scheme being adopted.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI cannot answer. It will be the number required for a small Expeditionary Force.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONWe know the number, but I have not the figures with me. If the hon. Member will put down a question, I will get the information.
Lieut.-Colonel J. WARDWill the right hon. Gentleman promise to advise the Department not to proceed further with this, as I should imagine it is decidedly against the opinion of the whole House?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI informed the hon. and gallant Member on a previous occasion that the question is not yet decided. It is only under consideration. Provision was made in last year's Estimates, but nothing was done.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIs it not possible to requisition lorries without subsidising them?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONYes, but there are other considerations. Requisitioning involves searching for lorries, but under an arrangement of this sort lorries are brought to us.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIn case of war, are not the Government of the day in a position to commandeer anything they like?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThat is true, but you have to know where to lay your hands on them. A register of vehicles enabling you to get them at a moment's notice may be very important in a case of urgency.
Lieut.-Colonel WARDCannot the right hon. Gentleman rely on getting through the police a thousand or two or three thousand lorries in less than two hours?
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIs it not possible to have a register without a subsidy?
§ Mr. SPEAKERHon. Members must not put further questions on this matter.