§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEasked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he is aware that, in September, 1916, a motor fire-engine built by Messrs. Merryweather and Sons, Limited, to the order of the Hendon urban district council, was requisitioned under the Defence of the Realm Act for the Royal Air Force; that since April, 1918, the district council have had continuous correspondence with the Air Ministry in order to obtain a fire-engine in place of the one requisitioned; that up to the present time, in spite of repeated applications, no satisfaction has been obtained from the Air Ministry; and whether he will take steps to see that this case is settled promptly?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe facts are generally as stated by the hon. and gallant Member. When this engine was requisitioned it was still in the possession of Messrs. Merryweather, and that firm has since been paid for the engine. Messrs. Merryweather are protected from their obligation to fulfil their contract to the Hendon urban district council by the Defence of Realm (Amendment) No. 2 Act, 1915, and the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act, 1917. A claim, however, has been made by the Council against the Air Ministry in respect of the excess cost now involved in replacing this engine under present conditions. Difficult questions of law are involved and the matter is still under discussion by the Air Ministry legal advisers.