HC Deb 30 June 1942 vol 381 cc25-6
43 Sir John Mellor

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether the cost of storing essential parts of motor vehicles, required to be deposited with the police, will be a national or local charge;

(2) whether, pending a decision with regard to the requisitioning of tyres of laid-up motor vehicles, he will direct the West Midland Regional Commissioner to cancel the order requiring essential parts to be deposited with the police;

(3) whether, in view of the ability of the Government to requisition the tyres of laid-up motor vehicles, he will now direct Regional Commissioners to suspend the issue of orders requiring essential parts to be deposited with the police?

Miss Wilkinson

The cost of storage falls upon the Police Fund, and any reasonable expenditure for this purpose will rank for the usual Exchequer Grant. The question of requisitioning the tyres of laid-up motor vehicles is under consideration in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. The plans regarding the requisition of tyres of laid-up cars have not yet been announced, but it is not anticipated that they would prove an adequate substitute for the Regional Commissioner's Direction for the immobilisation of unlicensed cars. The relation of the two schemes is, however, being borne in mind; and any necessary modifications in the Ministry of Home Security arrangements will be made.

Sir J. Mellor

As a very large number of cars will have to be laid up to-morrow, ought not a definite decision to be arrived at to-day?

Miss Wilkinson

No, Sir, it is not in the least necessary that it should be arrived at to-day. The arrangements for storing the immobilised parts will go perfectly smoothly. The other matter is one for consideration by the Ministry of Supply, but there is no particular hurry about it.

Sir J. Mellor

As I was informed by the hon. Member on 9th June that this matter was under consideration by the Ministry of Supply, how much longer will it take?

Miss Wilkinson

It will take the exact amount of time that it will require to come to a decision.