§ Major Lyonsasked the Minister of Supply whether he can estimate the number of motor coaches from all services lying redundant or derelict at depots throughout the country; what proportion have had good tyres removed or have been jacked-up for tyre protection; how many have been returned or offered, respectively, to their former owners; and what steps he proposes to ensure the rapid liquefying of these machines, required for essential civilians purposes, before their deterioration is complete?
§ Sir A. DuncanIn addition to 306 coaches returned to operators and 157 others offered to their former owners, 658 coaches notified by Service Departments for disposal have been transferred to other Government Departments or broken down for spares. Of the 616 remaining, many have only recently become available for disposal. In some cases it has not yet been possible to identify the former owners from the impressment records and the Ministry of War Transport are considering whether, after expiration of a limited period, the vehicles should be offered to operators approved by them. Under this arrangement the vehicles should soon be disposed of.