HC Deb 21 April 1943 vol 388 cc1709-11W
Mr. Astor

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport who were represented at the recent Cairo conference on motor transport in the Middle East; what matters were discussed; and what decisions were arrived at?

Mr. Noel-Baker

The Cairo conference on motor transport was held under the auspices of the Middle East supply centre. The main purpose of the conference was to promote economy in the use of road transport, to survey the supplies of vehicles, tyres and spare parts, and to secure the help of the various Governments concerned. It is not yet possible to assess its results, but I have every reason to think that the conference was a success.

The following were present

The Rt. Hon. R. G. Casey, D.S.O., M.C—Minister of State.

Lt.-Gen. Sir Wilfred G. Lindsell, K.C.B. K.B.E., D.S.O.—Lt.-Gen. I/C Administration M.E.F.

Mr. Fred Winant—Chairman of Executive Committee, M.E.S.C.

Dr. E. E. Bailey—Deputy Director General, M.E.S.C.

(Present at opening)

Mr. Harold Elliott—Director of Transport, M.E.S.C., and Chairman of Conference.

Mr. Richard May—Lend/Lease Representative, U.S. Government.

Mr. M. Macduffie, Jnr.—Director 01 Materials, M.E.S.C

Mr. R. H. Evans—Asst. Chairman U.K.C.C. Mebod.

Mons. P. Vasselet (Syria and Lebanon)—Chairman of Transport Committee.

Lt.-Col. le Blanc (Iraq)—Director of General Transport.

Mr. A. L. Gariner (Transjordan)—Chairman of Road Transport Commission.

Mr. T. S. Powell (Palestine Government).

Major J. D. Hegerty (Palestine)—Controller of Road Transport.

Mr. J. S. Pringle (Palestine)—Government Transport Agency.

Major C. W. Roberts (Saudi Arabia)—Transport Officer.

Mr. E. W. Jones (Principal Administrative Officer, U.K.C.C. Cairo.

Lt.-Col. J. Sanders (Eritrea)—Director of Transport Civil Affairs Administration.

Mr. A. J. Arkell (Sudan)—Controller of Transport.

Major F. T. Myat (Cyrenaica and Tripolitania)—Civil Affairs Administration G.H.Q. Cairo.

Major R. H. Quinnell (Cyprus)—Technical Officer, M.E.S.C.

Mr. R. P. Platt (Aden)—Government.

Sq. Ldr. R. J. R. Hartley—Fuel Tech. Sub-Committee of Cairo Petroleum Committee M.E.S.C.

Mr. A. F. Anderson—Tyre Officer, M.E.S.C.

Ashmed Bey Ragheb (Egyptian Government)—Under-Secretary of State for Public Works.

Mahmoud Zaki El Tawil (Egyptian Government)—Director General Road and Bridges Department.

Mahammed Bey Shoukly—Command Cairo City Traffic Dept.

(The three representatives of Egyptian Government were present for the second day of Conference only).

Observers from the United States Army Forces in the Middle East also attended.

Mr. R. Morgan

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what has been the outcome of the conference held at Cairo to consider transport problems of the Middle East?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have given to-day to my hon. Friend the Member for East Fulham (Mr. Astor) in which I explain that this conference, which was held under the auspices of the Middle East Supply Centre and opened by the Minister of State, was of an explanatory and informative character. Preliminary reports indicate that the conference was a success.