HC Deb 21 October 1946 vol 427 c1295
33. Sir J. Mellor

asked the Minister of Supply why new Austin motorcars have been purchased for the Control Commission in Germany; and why reconditioned Service vehicles are not used instead.

Mr. Wilmot

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Chippenham (Mr. Eccles), on 3rd June last.

Mr. Keeling

Would the Minister now answer the Question I asked him some time ago: What proportion of new Austins are reserved for the Government?

Mr. Wilmot

I cannot say, without notice.

34. Sir J. Mellor

asked the Minister of Supply how many new Wolseley motor cars, other than those for police forces, have been purchased by the Government during the past 12 months; for what purposes they are now used; and why reconditioned Service vehicles are not used instead.

Mr. Wilmot

The number of new Wolseley motor cars is 545. Three hundred and ninety-four were issued to Service Departments, 126 to Civil Departments, and 25 are in use in the pool of cars maintained by my Department for official use in the London area. New cars were purchased as no suitable reconditioned vehicles were available.

Sir J. Mellor

Can the Minister say what is being done about the reconditioning of the vast number of Service vehicles?

Mr. Wilmot

Those suitable for reconditioning are returned to the makers for that purpose, and are disposed of in the ordinary way.

Sir J. Mellor

But what is happening to them?