§ 30. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Minister of Supply why the items shown as signals vans, ambulances, platform trailers, and radio-equipped cars were not offered to the Home Office for Civil Defence use before being offered for sale by auction at Ruddington on 14th to 17th May, 1957.
§ Mr. Aubrey JonesThe items referred to were offered to the Home Office.
§ Mr. JonesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in certain parts of the North-East, Civil Defence forces are unable to undertake their proper training because, 852 in the words of a letter to me from the Under-Secretary at the Home Office a few days ago, "the despatch riders ought to use their own motor-cycles"? Having regard to the fact that motor-cycles were on offer at this sale, ought there not to be closer co-operation between the Departments concerned?
§ Mr. JonesThe fact that these items were for sale was known to the Home Office, and, from the Home Office point of view, there was no requirement for Civil Defence purposes. I therefore had no alternative but to proceed with the sale.