HC Deb 16 March 1948 vol 448 cc1870-2
36. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for War the approximate value when new of the 55,000 odd vehicles parked in Germany which had not been handed over to Disposal authorities or to local authorities on 27th January, 1948; and the approximate value of those vehicles today.

Mr. Shinwell

The number of vehicles held on Army charge in vehicle parks in Germany on 27th January was some 72,60o. The value of these vehicles when new is estimated to have been very approximately 3£ million. Their present sale value is estimated to be very roughly between £9 million and £9½ million.

Mr. Stokes

Is it not a fact that they are obviously rapidly deteriorating into scrap? Would it not be a good thing if they were either handed over to some competent person who would retrieve what is left, or else were deliberately broken up and used to meet the scrap needs of this country?

Mr. Shinwell

First of all, they are not rapidly deteriorating into scrap——

Mr. Stokes

They are, on the Minister's own figures.

Mr. Shinwell

They are being carefully preserved and, where necessary, are being reconditioned as speedily as possible. I have someone in the zone who went out recently to supervise the examination of these vehicles, in order to see what should be done.

Mr. Stokes

But will my right hon. Friend come along with me, and I will show him how bad they are?

Mr. Shinwell

It is unnecessary for me to accompany my hon. Friend. I have already been in Germany.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Are all these vehicles being retained for service?

Mr. Shinwell

Some of them will be disposed of, but we need to retain a very large number because for the last two years we have produced no new vehicles, and do not expect to produce any new vehicles for some considerable time to come.

Mr. Jennings

Will not the Minister agree that there are many of these wagons which could be brought into this country and used in the production drive, and that it is high time they were?

Mr. Shinwell

That would require, first, reconditioning where necessary, and then their transport to this country. We are not certain they are required here, but we shall inquire into that.

Mr. Emrys Roberts

Could the Minister say how many people are employed looking after these vehicles?

Mr. Shinwell

Not without notice.

Mr. Gammans

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a year ago his predecessor assured this House that something would be done about these vehicles, and is it not a crying scandal that this should be going on three years after the end of the German war?

Mr. Shinwell

Something is being done about these vehicles. They are being disposed of when possible. They are being reconditioned and sent to the various units, and, as I have said, we must retain a very large number because there is no hope of producing new vehicles for the Army for a long time to come.

Major Beamish

Is the Secretary of State aware that the slackness with which this matter has been handled has involved British taxpayers in the loss of several million pounds in the last two years?

Mr. Shinwell

I deny that there has been any slackness, and certainly there is no slackness now.

Mr. Scollan

Might I ask the Minister whether his Department has taken into consideration that these vehicles have been lying idle since the middle of 1945, that no attempt was made during the first year either to use them or to give them to people who required them, and that, since then, they have been deteriorating, and now we are involved in cost in trying to save them for the next war?

Mr. Shinwell

I have already said that a very large number of these vehicles are serviceable; but many require reconditioning, and that is being done, having regard to the supply of labour available.