95. Mr. Shawcrossasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the efforts of Messrs. J. W. Bush and Company, Limited, of Widnes to obtain the use of diesel generating units, lying idle in R.E. Stores at Widnes, in order to enable them to continue the manufacture of essential medical supplies, particulars of which have been supplied to him, have so far been frustrated by their application being passed from the War Office, to his Department. from one branch of his Department to another, and from the Ministry of Fuel and Power to the Ministry of Supply; and what action he proposes to take in the matter to secure the supply of one of these generators to this firm and to ensure proper coordination between the Departments concerned in dealing with similar applications in the future.
§ Mr. BelcherThe particular diesel generating units referred to are needed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War, and cannot be made available to industry. A limited number of diesel generators from Service stores are available on loan to approved firms, and Messrs. J. W. Bush & Co., Ltd., have been offered the most suitable of these, I am satisfied that the arrangements for dealing with applications for such sets are operating satisfactorily.