HC Deb 09 April 1946 vol 421 cc1786-7
45. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Prime Minister why, in view of the fact that the Ministry of Supply has already an efficient transport organisation with regional offices throughout the country, which in the past has looked after transport for other Government Departments, including the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Works has now opened a separate Department duplicating the staff and organisation of the Ministry of Supply; and why the Board of Trade have, on behalf of the raw material controls, set up a further duplicating system of transport.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)

During the war the Ministry of Supply Transport Organisation looked after the interests of the Ministry of Works very efficiently, as stated by the hon. Member. With the re-organisation of the Ministry of Supply and the combination of the Ministries of Supply and Aircraft Production and with the changing character of the transport problems which the end of the war has brought to both the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Works, it was felt that it was more appropriate for the latter Department to make its own arrangements for looking after the transport matters in which it was interested and which were in many respects different from those in which the Ministry of Supply was concerned. This involved the transfer to the Ministry of Works of the Headquarter Staff of the Ministry of Supply, who had been engaged full time on work for the Ministry of Works, and the setting up within the new Regional Organisation of that department of machinery to deal with transport matters throughout the country. I understand that there have been compensating reductions in the transport staff of the Ministry of Supply and I am not aware that any duplication of staff is involved by these changes.

With regard to the last part of the Ouestion, no new transport organisation has been set up, but arrangements have been made for the Raw Materials Control under the Board of Trade to employ forwarding agents direct.

Mr. De la Bère

Is not the Prime Minister aware of the shortage of both manpower and vehicles, and is it not an appalling thought that there should be duplication of a Government such as this?

The Prime Minister

My information js that there has been no duplication. If the hon. Member has any evidence to the contrary, I should be glad to receive it from him.