HC Deb 07 November 1939 vol 353 c12
12. Captain Strickland

asked the Secretary of State for War how many road motor goods vehicles have been impressed and requisitioned, respectively, by his Department; and how many of these were the property of railway companies?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Up to 28th October last, 17,446 goods vehicles, none of which was the property of a railway company, had been impressed under the provisions of the Army Act. There has been no requisitioning by the War Department of vehicles under the Defence Regulations.

Mr. R. J. Taylor

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is tremendous dissatisfaction about the requisitioning of these private vehicles? In some cases a man has been told to get another lorry and his own lorry has not been taken, so that he then has had two left on his hands, while in other cases lorries which have been taken have been sent back to the owners.

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Obviously, if one requisitions about 18,000 vehicles, inconvenience is caused; but the bulk of the requisitioning has now been done. If the hon. Member has particular instances of the kind he mentions, where injustices have been caused, I will look into them.

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