HC Deb 13 November 1929 vol 231 cc2052-4W
Mr. REMER

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the progress made with the development of mechanical transport in the Overseas Empire as the result of the grant made by the Empire Marketing Board; and if he will cause the various requirements of these Dominions and Colonies to be widely known to British manufacturers of motor vehicles?

Sir J. LAMB

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress has been made by the Mechanical Transport Research Committee; whether any interim Report on the work and expenditure to date will shortly be published; whether the whole cost of these researches still falls on the Empire Marketing Board or whether any specific contributions have yet been promised by Overseas Governments; and, if so, which Governments?

Mr. LUNN

Considerable progress has been made with the work of the Over- sea Mechanical Transport Directing Committee, and the first meeting of the Oversea Mechanical Transport Council was held last month.

The grant to which the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Remer) refers was made by the Board in order to enable the work of the Oversea Mechanical Transport Directing Committee, which was appointed last year by my Noble Friend's predecessor, to be put in hand without having to wait until the Governments of the other parts of the Empire could be consulted as to the payment by them of a share of the expenses of the Committee. As a result of this grant the Committee were able to begin work on the 15th November, 1928, and are at present concentrating most of their attention upon the evolution of transport units which would deal with loads in excess of those which it is possible to handle with existing motor vehicles. The Committee have issued a Progress Report, which has not been published, but I shall be glad to show it to the hon. Members if they so desire. As regards the last part of the first question, the Committee have been in touch with a number of firms in the industry in connection with their work.

In reply to the second part of the second question, it is contemplated that the cost of the work in question will be shared between the Empire Marketing Board, which will provide half the total amount, and the Governments of the other parts of the Empire, who wish to participate in the work. The expense of the first year's work is being borne entirely from the Board's grant. His Majesty's Governments in the Commonwealth of Australia and in New Zealand, together with the Government of India and the Government of Southern Rhodesia, have undertaken to contribute towards the cost of the Committee's work.

The following Governments have also promised to contribute:

  • Gold Coast.
  • Nigeria.
  • Northern Rhodesia.
  • Sierra Leone.
  • South African High Commission Territories.
  • Tanganyika Territory.
  • Uganda.

Replies are still awaited from a number of other Governments.