§ 52. Major Lyonsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply approximately how many motor-vehicles, including motor-cycles, have been returned from Service use to industry and the public, respectively, this year to date; upon what basis such sales have taken place and by what qualified assessors and upon what terms have the same been arranged and whether by advertisement or tender or private transaction; what conditions have been imposed thereon for their ultimate use; and what steps have been taken to secure the removal in every case, of camouflage and divisional and all other Service distinguishing marks prior to the non-official utilisation of such vehicles?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanBetween 1st January and 1st October, 1941, approximately 14,300 War Office vehicles were returned from Service use. Of these, 3,500 were repaired by the Ministry of Supply and allocated to the Ministry of War Transport for use by other Government Departments. A further 10,000 were sold by tender, and no conditions were imposed as to ultimate use. The remaining 800 have been disposed of under an agreement made in August last between the Ministry of Supply and the Society of 988 Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Limited, whereby disposable vehicles are sold to their original manufacturers for resale to the public under controlled conditions. It is intended that this system should replace sale by tender. The prices paid both by the Society and by the public are determined by an agreed formula, and the employment of assessors is not, therefore, necessary. Instructions have been issued for the obliteration of divisional and all other Service distinguishing marks before the vehicles are handed over to the Ministry of Supply, who have also taken steps to ensure that this obliteration is complete.
§ Major LyonsWill my hon. Friend give the formula by which prices are fixed and some idea of the firms which have had this large number of vehicles from the Government, and their location, and state whether they are in or outside the council of that society? Will he also give the prices paid?
§ Mr. MacmillanBy the earlier system they were sold by tender. That has been replaced by a system whereby the prices, both for the manufacturer and the public, are controlled. The prices are fixed by a complicated formula which I will send to my hon. and gallant Friend if he desires. It relates to the condition of the car, its date, horse-power and so on, and it is meant to cover every possible variety of case.
§ Major LyonsWill my hon. Friend publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT, with specimen prices that have been received?