§ 8. Mr. HOGGEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that two Scottish railway companies urged as an excuse to a body of traders in Scotland for delays in transport that 10,000 wagons were out of commission; whether he is aware that the same state of affairs obtains on many English rail ways; and whether nothing can be done to devise even a temporary expedient to secure their repair and placing in com mission again?
Mr. RUNCIMANMy attention has not previously been called to this statement by Scottish railway companies, and I am afraid I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answers given to his questions on the 9th and 23rd December and to my remarks on the Motion for Adjournment on the latter date.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries of the Caledonian and North British Railway Companies, who offered as an excuse for the non-delivery of goods that 10,000 wagons were out of commission, and will he make some effort to put these wagons into commission in order that the traders of Scotland may get on with their work?
Mr. RUNCIMANI am afraid that I cannot say whether the figure is correct or not, but I am in communication with the executive committee of the railways on the subject of rolling stock. They labour under considerable difficulties owing to a considerable proportion of their works being taken for munition purposes, and for the moment they cannot part with the skilled workers employed in the making of munitions.
§ Mr. HOGGEAs the Government are in control of the railways, and if the figures supplied are therefore in their control, must not those figures be accurate?