§ 35. Mr. Wyattasked the Minister of Transport why 200 "W" coupons are allotted monthly to the public address sound van, the registration number of which is JXB 360, which is used by Sir Oswald Mosley's Union Movement.
§ 36. Mr. Anthony Greenwoodasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that a loud-speaker van bearing the registration number JXB 360 and carrying a petrol-driven electric generator is shortly leaving on a nation wide tour for the purpose of giving publicity to the speeches of ex-detainees under the former Regulation 18B, why petrol was allocated by his Department for this tour, and whether, in the public interest, he will stop this wastage of petrol.
§ Mr. BarnesI have made inquiries and find that the petrol used by the vehicle on this tour, which is now ended, was issued to Mr. A. T. Smith, in whose name it is registered, for use in connection with his business as owner of a sound transmission apparatus available for hire. I understand from my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Fuel and Power, that for the operation of the sound transmission apparatus installed in the vehicle Mr. Smith was allowed the "W" coupons to which he is entitled for this purpose.
§ Mr. WyattNow that my right hon. Friend knows the purpose for which this van is being used, that it is being used by a vicious anti-social organisation, will he reconsider the position and see that this 14 grant of petrol is not allowed to continue to annoy those people who have been deprived of basic petrol?
§ Mr. BarnesIt would be rather a dangerous practice if the Ministry of Transport were used to deal with problems of this character. This would fall to another Department. I deal with vehicles and classes of vehicles and not necessarily with the purposes for which they are used.
§ Mr. GreenwoodWhile appreciating the point made by my right hon. Friend, might I ask whether he will snake clear to other firms which may be tempted to engage in this kind of work that ex-Service men who cannot get petrol for their cars strongly resent petrol being granted to this organisation, which propagates a creed which they spent years fighting to destroy?
§ Mr. BarnesThe licensing authorities can only issue coupons for recognised practices and for recognised vehicles. It is not for them to go into any of these ether aspects.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWill the right hon. Gentleman remember also that many thousands of ex-Service men spent years fighting the creed which the hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Platts-Mills) has recently promoted and for which he gets petrol?
§ Squadron-Leader FlemingIs it not a fact that Mr. Smith, the owner of this loud-speaker van, is quite willing to loan it to the Communist Party if they will pay for it?
§ Mr. BarnesThat is not a matter which concerns my Department.
Mr. H. D. HughesWould the Minister take note of the fact that the hon. Member for Mid-Bedford (Mr. Lennox-Boyd) questioned the statement that Sir Oswald Mosley has a vicious anti-social organisation?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe other day I deprecated these personal attacks on individual Members.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Might I ask for y our guidance and, indeed, your help? I said no such thing.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI made no reference whatever to Sir Oswald Mosley. I said that the hon. Member for Finsbury had publicly supported a creed as much opposed by ex-Service men as the creed of Sir Oswald Mosley.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe House will remember that I had occasion the other day to deprecate very strongly attacks made on individual Members as such. I deprecate such statements. The hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Platts-Mills) has nothing whatever to do with this Question. This has nothing to do with the Question on the Paper.
§ Mr. SpeakerAfter what I have said, I think we had better pass to the next Question.