HC Deb 26 January 1943 vol 386 cc341-2
12. Sir H. Williams

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make inquiries into the circumstances under which action was taken to requisition premises, of the location of which he has been informed, despite the fact that at the time of requisitioning, the premises in question were being used for the repair of motor-vehicles?

Mr. Dalton

No, Sir. No further inquiries are necessary. I have explained the circumstances of this case in letters to my hon. Friend the Member for Hereford (Mr. J. P. L. Thomas) in whose constituency the premises in question are situated. Before I issued an authority to acquire these premises, I consulted my noble Friend the Minister of War Transport, who is responsible for the maintenance of adequate and efficient facilities for the repair of motor vehicles. He agreed that the premises should be made available for other purposes, and they have, therefore, been allocated by my Department to the Ministry of Supply to meet urgent storage requirements.

Sir H. Williams

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the terms of the letter addressed by the Regional Transport Commissioner to the owner of the premises in question, and does he think it proper that letters should be written by a Civil servant in such terms of discourtesy?

Mr. Dalton

I have not that letter before me. Perhaps my hon. Friend would like to send me a copy, but on the merits of the case I am fully satisfied in the circumstances.

Sir H. Williams

Can the merits of the case be judged by the man who wrote an impertinent letter?

Mr. Dalton

I do not accept that it was impertinent.