§ Mr. R. C. Morrisonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 382W the firm of Pauly Brothers, 49, Praed Street, Paddington, by advertisement obtained motor cars for use by the War Department; that no payment has been made to the owners, and that correspondence remains unanswered; whether payments due for hire of motor cars have been made to this firm; and what steps were taken to see that only firms of proved reliability were entrusted with this work?
§ Mr. EdenI have ascertained that a number of vehicles were hired by the military authorities in the London area from a firm who had in turn obtained vehicles from Messrs. Pauly Brothers. The latter firm had advertised for vehicles, but the War Department had no dealings with this firm. Payment has been made by the Department to the firm from which it hired vehicles, and the Department is not responsible for any transactions with Messrs. Pauly Brothers. The policy of the War Office is to hire vehicles only from owners and licensed operators, and instructions to this effect are in force.