§ 21. Flight-Lieutenant Beswickasked the Minister of War Transport why applications for permits for ex-Service motor cars from disabled ex-Servicemen are refused because of shortage of motor cars, whilst ex-Service motor cars are now to be auctioned publicly without regard to the need of the purchaser.
§ Mr. BarnesThe allocation of surplus motor cars by my Ministry is confined to those which are reconditioned by the trade for sale at fixed prices under an approved scheme. The number of such cars averages at present less than Zoo a month, but I understand that my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply proposes to endeavour to select before the auctions, begin those cars which are suitable for reconditioning and sale through the scheme agreed with the trade.
§ Flight-Lieutenant BeswickIs my right hon. Friend aware that his reply will not be appreciated by a number of these men who have had their applications turned down because their degree of disability was not 100 per cent.? Will he see that the reasons, in so far as they are good, are understood by these men?
§ Mr. BarnesIt is very difficult to convey to applicants the real difficulties in this problem. The root of the problem is the limited number of cars, and that being so, I have to make the percentage of disability a very high one, otherwise it would only increase the amount of disappointment.
§ Sir Robert YoungWill the Minister say what is the proportion of disability? Is it 50 per cent. or is it more?
§ Mr. BarnesIt is nearer 100 per cent.
§ Mr. StephenWill the Minister say whether the cars are reconditioned by the trade and handed back to the Government for disposal?
§ Mr. BarnesThat is the position. These cars represent a very favourable bargain, because they are good cars and are free of Purchase Tax, and there is a great demand for them from Service men. I 9 should be delighted to meet the whole of the demand but I am limited to the small number the Department receive, and have, therefore, had to fix a very high percentage of disability for the purpose.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas MooreWill the Minister bear in mind that it is useless to offer to these disabled ex-Servicemen high powered cars which are expensive to run as has been happening in the past? They need small, easily run cars.
§ Mr. BarnesI do not agree.
§ Flight-Lieutenant BeswickThe Minister has said that the root cause is that he has not sufficient cars. It is precisely because of that that I asked why these large numbers of cars are being auctioned without any regard to the disabled men.
§ Mr. BarnesThe Minister of Supply will be answering a Question on this matter later.