Tyres (Hansard, 7 November 1944)

18. Captain Thorneycroft
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the conditions attached to discounts offered to big commercial users of tyres by the manufacturers of new tyres; and whether he is satisfied that the condition by which old covers are slit so that they cannot be retreaded when new tyres are delivered is in the national interest.

§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. Peat)
I have been asked to reply. Under the Tyre Rationing Scheme now in force no discounts are offered to any commercial vehicle user, nor are surrendered tyres slit or mutilated in any way until they have been inspected and found unfit for retreading.

Captain Thorneycroft
Is my hon. Friend aware that this condition for slitting tyres was commonly inserted in contracts with big commercial users before the war, and that unless the Government do something about it similar conditions will be imposed in future, and what steps will be taken to prevent it?

§ Mr. Peat
It is not for my Department to answer that supplementary question.

19. Captain Thorneycroft
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement on the policy to be followed by the Government after the present tyre control comes to an end; and, in particular, what steps he is taking to prevent the Tyre Manufacturers' Conference from establishing a post-war monopoly in this industry.

§ Mr. Peat
I have been asked to reply. Relaxation of control must depend, among other things, upon a freer supply of raw materials which is not yet in sight. I am not aware of any suggestions for the establishment of a post-war monopoly in this industry.

Captain Thorneycroft
Whether it is for my hon. Friend to reply or not, does he realise that, unless some Member of His Majesty's Government takes an interest in whether a monopoly will be set up or not, all the practices to which I referred in the last Question will be reintroduced? Is it not time that the Government set up some machinery whereby these things can be brought to the light of day?

Hon. Members
Answer.

§ Mr. Peat
The Ministry of Supply may not be in existence when these things will have to be dealt with.

§ Mr. Moelwyn Hughes
On a paint of Order. As this Question was put down to the President of the Board of Trade, who has appeared at that Box more than once to deal with this very matter an behalf of the Government, and as the De- 1230 partment to which it was transferred says it is not interested in it because it will not be in existence, can it be explained why the Question was transferred from the Board of Trade to the Ministry of Supply?

Mr. Speaker
As far as I am concerned I cannot answer that.

Captain Thorneycroft
Further, on that point of Order. This Question was put down to the President of the Board of Trade and was transferred to the Minister of Supply. As I am informed that the Minister of Supply cannot give an answer, surely the President of the Board of Trade should reply.

§ Mr. Dalton
Would I be in Order in dealing with the question why this Question, which was put down to me, was transferred by agreement to the Minister of Supply? The reason was that the tyre control is not under the Board of Trade but under the Ministry of Supply. It was, therefore, considered that it was more appropriate that the Minister of Supply should answer it.

Captain Thorneycroft
If the tyre control is under the Ministry of Supply, should not my Question whether it will become a monopoly be given an answer?

Mr. Speaker
The point arose from a supplementary and not from the main Question.