§ Captain Stricklandasked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the total number of mechanically-propelled road goods-vehicles requisitioned by his officers for Government departmental work, including air-raid precautions services; and what proportion of these were owned or controlled by the railway companies and other road-operators, respectively?
§ Captain WallaceTwo thousand five hundred and eight goods vehicles have been requisitioned by my officers. Vehicles owned by the Government, by local government authorities and statutory public utility undertakers (including the railways) may not be requisitioned. I cannot give the figures asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend in the second part of his question, but no distinction has been made for requisitioning purposes between vehicles owned by railway-controlled operators and those owned by other operators.
§ Captain Stricklandasked the Minister of Transport what is the rate of payment for the requistioned hire of road goods-vehicles; whether this payment includes any proportion of licence duty and insurance already paid by the operator; and to what date full hire has already been paid?
§ Captain WallaceHiring charges for requisitioned goods vehicles are governed by Section 4 of the Compensation (Defence) Act, 1939, and are payable by the Department or authority for whom the vehicle is requisitioned. I have no information regarding the payments already made. The cost of insuring the vehicle is borne by the hirer in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 (1) (a) of the Act. As my hon. Friend is aware, licence duty is recoverable by the owner of the vehicle on surrender of the licence.