HC Deb 15 December 1919 vol 123 c65W
Major GLYN

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions how many locomotives used by the Army in France and other theatres of war have been found unsuitable or work upon British railways and then not easily disposable in this country; how many locomotives of this type were actually brought to this country viâ Richborough and other ports and are still in this country or have been returned overseas; what steps, if any, the Ministry propose to take to sell these locomotives; and whether any proposal for the conversion of these locomotives for use upon Russian railways would be welcomed by the Ministry in order that practical steps may be taken without delay to transport cereals in Southern Russia to Black Sea ports for shipment to those areas of Europe where the country is in a condition of great distress?

Mr. KELLAWAY

There are about eighty-five locomotives of the type referred to in the first part of the question, and these are in France. They are, however, unsuitable for use on British railways, and negotiations are in progress for disposing of them abroad. None of these locomotives were brought to this country, and it is not anticipated that there will be any great difficulty in disposing of them in their present state.