§ Mr. MARRIOTTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what is the system at present adopted for the disposal on behalf of the British military authorities in Germany of surplus lorry stock; whether private British firms have an equal chance in obtaining the cars; and whether, in view of public feeling on the subject, he will have inquiries made into the whole matter?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYMotor lorries in Germany are notified to the Disposal Board for sale from time to time as and when they become surplus to requirements. They are sold in accordance with the general policy of the Board for the highest price obtainable. All the lorries disposed of up to the present time have been sold to British firms, and an equal opportunity of purchasing the vehicles is afforded to all British private firms of financial standing. I am not aware of any public feeling with regard to this matter, neither have I received any complaints in connection therewith.
§ Mr. MARRIOTTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he will give the total number of motor lorries in the motor transport park in the Aachener Strasse, the Veleor Strasse, and in the Bickendorf aerodrome at Cologne on 1st February; how many of them have been sold; to whom they have been sold; and for how much they have been sold?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI am informed that the total number of lorries in the motor transport parks at Aachener and Bickendorf aerodrome on the 1st February was 3,300, of which 2,550 have been notified to the Disposal Board by the War Office as surplus to requirements. I understand that there were no lorries in Veleor Strasse. Of the 2,550 surplus lorries, 716 have been sold to Messrs. Maudslay Motor Company and 200 to Messrs the Albion Company. The total sum realised therefor was £354,400. A further 562 of the surplus lorries have been despatched to this country for repair.
§ Mr. FORRESTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of 271W Munitions what steps are taken to check the number of lorries delivered to purchasers of these vehicles now in the parks at Cologne; and what is the average price per lorry received hitherto on those sold?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe Disposal Board's representatives in Cologne can only deliver vehicles to purchasers against issue warrants, and deliveries are all signed for. The Disposal Board's accounts are subject to audit and the issue of vehicles will, of course, be checked with the numbers originally notified for disposal. The average price obtained for vehicles soldin situ in Cologne is £387 per lorry, the purchaser bearing all expenses in connection with removal, custody, transport, etc.
§ Mr. FORRESTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions if he has sold 665 Thorneycroft lorries recently in the parks at Cologne; and, if so, the name or names of the vendor or vendors and the average price obtained per vehicle?
§ Mr. KELLAWAY666 Thorneycroft lorries were recently sold in Cologne by the Disposal Board. They were purchased by Messrs. Maudsley Motor Company at an average price of £400. The lorries were soldin situ, the purchasers bearing all expenses in connection with removal, custody, transport, etc.