§ 53. Mr. Woodburnasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he has taken to retain in service the snow-clearing appliances and arrangements established at their various road depots by British Road Services; and how far these have been sold or dispersed.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe British Transport Commission inform me that they have no snow-clearing equipment, though some of their lorries are adapted to carry such equipment belonging to other people. Of such lorries, eight had been sold. This does not involve dispersal, since arrangements exist for pooling such vehicles in an emergency whether they belong to British Road Services, local authorities or private operators.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that between Glasgow and Carlisle there were depots where British Road Services kept vehicles for clearing the roads and helping local authorities? For their own purposes they kept the vehicles, and is it not rather surprising that British Road Services have not been notified?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think the right hon. Member is confusing vehicles for carrying equipment with vehicles devised to effect clearance.