HC Deb 14 December 1948 vol 459 cc1011-2
18. Mr. Vane

asked the Secretary of State for War why hired furniture vans were used during the summer of 1948 for troop movements to and from week-end Territorial camps and for training during annual camps in place of normal R.A.S.C. troop-carrying transport.

Mr. Shinwell

The normal method of moving troops, including Territorials, to and from camps, is by rail. If the camp is inaccessible by rail, road transport is used. Whenever possible, War Department transport is provided for such movements, and to meet training requirements during Territorial Army camps; as, however, the resources of War Department transport now available in the United Kingdom are very limited, it is frequently necessary to resort to hiring. When this is necessary, civilian vehicles are obtained on hire under normal War Department contract arrangements. It is not the policy to employ furniture vans for troop carrying. Vehicles of this type would only have been used if no more suitable vehicles were available.

Mr. Vane

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I was not referring in my Question to long moves, which are usually carried out by rail? Does he not think it very disturbing at present, when the strength of the Territorial Army is very small, that our resources of R.A.S.C. transport are not sufficient to carry out short moves? Does he not agree that this has a most depressing effect on recruiting—to see Territorial soldiers carried about in furniture vans?

Mr. Shinwell

I have said we do not employ furniture vans for this purpose. So far as I know, our transport arrangements are adequate, and I have yet to learn of depression among the Territorials.

Mr. Vane

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this year I have been taken to two week-end camps by furniture vans of different shapes and colours and that they were used during the whole of the period I was in camp with a Territorial Brigade in Yorkshire?

Mr. Shinwell

If that is so, that mode of transport has had no serious effect upon the hon. Member.

Sir W. Wakefield

Why does not the right hon. Gentleman use some of the transport which has been dumped in various parts of the country and is now rotting away and becoming unserviceable. Why can not it be made serviceable and used?

Mr. Shinwell

We have a lot of transport, much of which is surplus, much of which is serviceable, and much of which could be made serviceable if we had the labour for reconditioning it.