§ 33. Captain Stricklandasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport how many of the 77 road vehicles despatched empty by his Department from London to Gloucester between 15th and 19th October were actually loaded at Gloucester with the fibre board for which they were despatched; and how many went sent away still empty from Gloucester to other destinations.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerMy hon. and gallant Friend is in error in thinking that 77 vehicles were sent empty from London to Gloucester by the Road Haulage Organisation between 15th and 19th October; as I informed him last week, a considerable number of them carried loads. As I also informed him last week, some of these vehicles carried urgent and essential traffic for the Armed Forces of the United States. This traffic was part of a most secret movement; for that reason the drivers were told that they were to collect fibre board at Gloucester. In fact, the points at which they collected their loads were all within short distances of that city, Gloucester.
§ Captain StricklandWould my hon. Friend answer that part of my Question which asks how many vehicles left Gloucester empty on that date?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerNone of them left empty in the sense that they returned to London or to the other final destinations without their loads. They went on from Gloucester to other points to pick up the loads which they were always intended to carry.
§ Captain StricklandIs the Parliamentary Secretary informing the House that it was necessary to send these empty vehicles to Gloucester to get them back to Chichester?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThis is quite like old times. I can assure the hon. and gallant Member that his case is no better now than it was before. These vehicles were sent at the request of the American Army. It was for the officer of that Army who was in charge to decide whether or not the men should be told where they were going, or what they were to carry. We only did what we were asked to do.