HC Deb 28 April 1953 vol 514 cc1964-5
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. A. R. W. Low)

I desire to apologise to you, Mr. Speaker, to the House, and to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. D. Griffiths) for my failure to be present when Question No. 55 was called, and I hope that you and the House will accept my sincere apologies—

Hon. Members

What is the reason?

Mr. H. Morrison

Where is the Minister?

Mr. Low

I will not let it occur again. The answer to Question No. 55 is as follows:

The tanks are moved by transporters under Ministry of Supply control to War Office depots, and during this move they are locked and sheeted. On arrival at the War Office depot responsibility passes to the War Office.

Mr. Griffiths

Is the Minister aware that that is not a true statement—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—but in fact these tanks are delivered from the Royal Ordnance Factory at Leeds. [HON. MEMBERS: "Question."] I said, "Is the Minister aware." I hope hon. Members will listen. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that they are dispatched from the Royal Ordnance Factory at Leeds, taken on to waste ground at Castle Hill, Huddersfield, and left there unattended either by police or any military? Is the Minister further aware that any person with an ulterior motive or wanting to sabotage could easily do so? Is he aware that it would be as well, if no care is to be taken in this regard, to build more useful things than tanks?

Mr. Low

During their move of course it may be necessary for them to go to parking places and in such an event the tanks are parked only in authorised parking places where there is an attendant, or where they are convenient for police supervision. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind in which he has seen tanks parked unattended, I hope he will bring it to my notice.

Mr. Paget

We have had the explanation of the Parliamentary Secretary and we hope that Blackpool will do better on Saturday. Can the hon. Gentleman now tell us why his Minister is not here for this vitally important statement?

Mr. Low

I do not think that arises out of this Question.

Mr. Speaker

That is a separate question.