§ 42. Mr. McKinlayasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport the number of additional new 2017 and secondhand vehicles made available to controlled haulage undertakings during the last two years and the number of such vehicles made available to hired undertakings, giving the figures for Scottish undertakings separately.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerLike all other road haulage firms, controlled undertakings, which form part of the Road Haulage Organisation, buy their own vehicles themselves. The records which are kept do not distinguish between new vehicles bought by such undertakings and new vehicles bought by other operators. I regret, therefore, that I am unable to give my hon. Friend the figures for which he asks. The purchase of second-hand goods vehicles is not subject to the Control and Acquisition of Motor Vehicles Order.
§ Mr. McKinlayIs my hon. Friend aware that controlled undertakings get the necessary sanction from his Department to acquire new vehicles, and that these permits are denied to hired undertakings of smaller men?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI am assured that that suggestion is without foundation. Indeed the controlled undertakings complain that they are less well treated than other people, because the Government have a financial interest in the result, and are more careful about the purchase of vehicles.
§ Mr. McKinlayWill my hon. Friend take up this matter with his Edinburgh office and get a return of the additional vehicles being operated by controlled undertakings to the detriment of hired undertakings?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThat is a wider question. If my hon. Friend will write to me about it I will see what I can do