HC Deb 16 March 1931 vol 249 cc1662-3
52. Major BEAUMONT THOMAS

asked the Postmaster-General the total number of motor vehicles in use by his Department; how many are of foreign manufacture; what various types of vehicles these are; and what foreign vehicles, if any, are on order at present?

Mr. ATTLEE

The total number of motor vehicles of all kinds at present in Use is 5,899, of which 4,998 are of all-British manufacture. The remaining 901 are Ford vans with all-British bodies, and with chassis of which four are of foreign manufacture and the remainder of British manufacture except for a small percentage of foreign parts. No vehicles of foreign manufacture are on order; but 10 Ford vans are on order which will contain a small percentage of foreign parts in the chassis.

Mr. HANNON

Will the hon. Gentleman see that, in future, as these Ford vehicles go out of employment, they will be replaced by British-made vehicles?

Mr. ATTLEE

The hon. Member cannot have caught my answer. These Ford vehicles are all British, except for very small portions of parts which are sent ready-made from America.

Captain Sir WILLIAM BRASS

But is it not a fact that the money made out of these Ford vehicles goes to the United States?