HC Deb 02 March 1944 vol 397 cc1587-8W
Dr. R. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the revised conditions upon which motorcars may be accepted on loan from private owners to the Civil Defence authorities.

Mr. H. Morrison

As the conditions recommended to local authorities are rather long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Conditions under which local authorities are recommended to accept loans of private cars for Civil Defence purposes:

  1. (i) The determination of the period of the loan shall be at the discretion of the local authority (subject possibly to reasonable notice to the owner, such as a month); and the owner shall not have the right to withdraw the vehicle from loan before the termination of hostilities with Germany.
  2. (ii) No condition shall be attached by the owner limiting either the civil defence service on which the vehicle may be used or the persons who may drive or use it, and the vehicle shall not be garaged at the premises of the owner or his nominee or otherwise reserved for his own use (this applies whether or not the owner is a member or officer of the authority or of a civil defence service); and
  3. (iii) The liability for reinstatement on termination of the loan shall exclude normal wear and tear in service, and preferably be limited to a fixed maximum figure (say £25 or £30) apart from any reinstatement of damage due to war damage or an accident normally covered by insurance. (Note: To avoid disputes at the termination of the period of loan, the condition of the vehicle (including its tyres) and details of its accessories should be agreed and recorded at the commencement of the loan.)