HC Deb 22 February 1945 vol 408 c944
32. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Cook

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made for the disposal of C.D. vehicles, surplus to requirements, with particular reference to fire pumps and ambulances.

Mr. H. Morrison

Surplus fire pumps and other surplus vehicles of the National Fire Service and the Civil Defence Reserve, being Government property, will be handed to the appropriate Disposal Department in accordance with the White Paper on the Disposal of Government Surplus Stores. Special consideration is being given to the possibility of arrangements under which works brigades could acquire, at reduced prices, pumps which have been on loan to them on behalf of the Government. Other Civil Defence vehicles are the property of local authorities, who have been told by circulars that surplus vehicles may be sold locally under certain conditions. With regard to ambulances in particular I have arranged, in agreement with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Health, that the best vehicles will be available to be retained by local authorities requiring them for their normal ambulance services.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Is it proposed that the whole of the Civil Defence organisation should be disbanded? Surely some sort of nucleus will be kept.

Mr. Morrison

I can assure the hon. Member that that is not being lost sight of.