§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Home Secretary what local authorities have refused to authorise their Civil Defence drivers to give lifts to unofficial passengers while the vehicles they drive are on official journeys, as suggested by his recent circular, urging that with the reduction of public transport it is in the national interest that such lifts 542W should be given to the public and members of the Forces; and what reasons have been given for such refusals?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonI have no information as to the action taken by individual local authorities on the circular referred to, and do not consider it necessary to call for a special return. In the case of a particular town to which my hon. Friend has called my attention, I understand the council's view to have been that the giving of lifts is unnecessary having regard to the very restricted area within which its Civil Defence vehicles operate.