§ 19. Mr. Snowasked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement regarding the number of 30-h.p. lorries, the running mileages of which are under 1,000, and which are only three months old, which are being disposed of at £60 per vehicle, and details of which have been sent to him.
§ Mr. MaudlingI assume that the newspaper advertisement which the hon. Member sent me refers to Army Fordson trucks recently sold by auction. These have also been the subject of Press reports, but in both cases the statements made do not accord with the facts.
Three hundred and forty-two of these vehicles, which were no longer needed by the Services, were sold. They were at least ten years old and were a specialised type, of war-time manufacture, with a 6-ft. square open body. They weigh 3½ tons, the petrol consumption is about ten miles to the gallon, and the tax would be £35 a year. Certain spare parts also are difficult to obtain.