§ 50. Mr. Emrys Robertsasked the Minister of Defence how many officers in each of the Services serving in London are brought from their residences to their offices and taken home again by official Service cars; what are the ranks of such officers; and how many cars are used for such purposes in each Service; and what is the total amount of petrol consumed in such journeys.
§ Mr. AlexanderAs I have already explained to the hon. Member in a letter, this is a matter of detailed administration for which responsibility to Parliament rests with the Service Ministers, and cannot be regarded as falling within the scope of the purposes for which the Ministry of Defence was set up.
§ Mr. Emrys RobertsDoes not the Minister consider that the present circumstances impose a need for a common policy in the Services on this matter, especially in view of the need for civilian fuel, and the hardship caused to the civilian population in areas where public transport is not available?
§ Mr. AlexanderThere is no doubt about the need for economy, and that is constantly being pressed. Detailed information about Service officers, cars, and matters of this kind can only be obtained, by putting Questions to the Ministers responsible to Parliament for the administration of the Services, as explained in Paragraph 20 of the White Paper on Central Organisation for Defence.