§ 35. Mr. HAILWOODasked the Minister of Transport if he has received an offer 990 from Mr. Dudley Docker, chairman of the Metropolitan Carriage and Finance Company, to build 500 railway wagons per week at less cost than His Majesty's Government can produce them under their national scheme; and if he is prepared to accept the offer?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe Minister has received a letter from Mr. Dudley Docker. chairman of the Metropolitan Carriage and Finance Company, offering to build wagons at the rate of 500 per week, and six railway companies have been placed in communication with him.
§ Mr. SHORTCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether a chartered accountant has been appointed to go into the question of the cost?
§ Sir E. GEDDESNo, Sir; not yet.
§ Brigadier - General CROFTMany months ago did the right hon. Gentleman receive an offer from another big firm offering to supply wagons at a very rapid rate for a profit of only 5 per cent!
§ Sir E. GEDDESI have no recollection of such an offer; all the facilities for the construction of wagons at a reasonable cost, expeditiously, have been explored.
§ Mr. LAMBERTIs it not a fact that wagons are being held up—wagons built by the Metropolitan Company—through the lack of the appointment of this chartered accountant, as promised last week?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH -BENTINCKWill the right hon. Gentleman get a move on?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI am doing it as quickly as I can.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWas not an answer given by his Department last week that an accountant would be appointed at once?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe appointment is to be made in agreement with those who represent. the wagon building interest.
§ Mr. SHORTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware Ilea a deputation from the workpeople concerned were told that there would be no delay in the appointment of t his accountant?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThere has been no avoidable delay.
§ 36. Sir PARK GOFFasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the iron and steel works in Cleveland are often 991 out of work for two or three days owing to the shortage of wagons; to what extent is this due to the general bad running of wagons; and, if so, what steps does he propose to take to remedy this state of affairs?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI am unable to add to the general statement which I made to hon. Members on the 10th December, and in which I dealt with the position in the Middlesbrough district.
§ Sir P. GOFFIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the increase in the output of the new steel plant in the iron and steel works of Cleveland has increased 50 percent., and that in each of these works there are £50,000 to £60,000 worth of steel lying on the ground waiting for wagons?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI am aware that the output has increased, but the wagon-building capacity has not increased, owing to the War, and we need to overtake our arrears first.
§ Sir P. GOFFWhy did the right hon. Gentleman refuse the offer of 3,000 wagons per annum at £40 or £50 less per wagon than can be built at Woolwich?
§ 37. Mr. REMERasked the Minister of Transport how many firms in the United Kingdom are capable of building railway wagons; how many inquiries from that Ministry or from the various railway companies were sent to the railway wagon builders; whether their attention has been called to the statement that several large firms of wagon builders have never had an inquiry and are working short time; and whether they will take such steps to have specifications sent to them without any further delay.?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI must refer the hon. Member to the general statement which I made on 10th December. The railway companies concerned have made numerous inquiries from wagon builders, the results of which I then quoted. Such inquiries are frequently made, and I see no reason to call for a return of the total number. In reply to the latter part of the question, I am, as already stated, anxious to put any firms who desire to quote for early delivery at reasonable prices in communication with the railway companies.
§ Mr. REMERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are many wagon builders who have never been asked to quote for prices of wagons?
§ Sir E. GEDDESIf such firms will write either to the railway companies who are ordering the wagons or to me I shall be glad to deal with the matter.
§ Sir E. GEDDESNo, Sir.
§ 38. Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Minister of Transport whether, in the events of private firms giving orders for railway trucks, he will give an undertaking that such trucks will not be pooled?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI am unable to give such an undertaking, as Clause 13 of the Ministry of Transport Act provides that the Minister shall not purchase wagons used for the conveyance of any particular class of traffic unless he purchases all privately-owned wagons so used, but I am afraid I do not quite understand what my hon. and gallant Friend desires to ascertain, and if he will confer with me I shall endeavour to satisfy him.
§ Brigadier-General CROFTIs it not possible for the right hon. Gentleman to say that no privately-owned wagons will be interfered with in any way whatever, and that this is the only way that the orders will be given?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI cannot do that. The Ministry of Transport Bill provides that they may be.
39. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Teeside Bridge and Engineering Company, Middlesbrough, have converted their munitions workshop into a wagon building shop, and although they are prepared to turn out over 1,000 railway wagons per annum, the North-Eastern Railway Company will only allow them to quote for one solitary wagon, notwithstanding the fact that this railway company is extremely short of wagons; and can he do anything to obtain wagons from this firm, provided the price is satisfactory, in view of the deficiency in transport facilities on the North-East Coast?
§ Sir E. GEDDESYes, Sir; I am aware of the arrangements made by this firm, and a communication received from them has been passed on to the Railway Executive Committee for communication to the railway companies interested. I am not aware of the negotiations with the North-Eastern Railway Company referred to, 993 but not long ago the general manager of the company stated that he was anxious to find firms able to build for early delivery at a reasonable price.
§ 57. Mr. RAMSDENasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the Government decision to carry out locomotive wagon building at Woolwich, he will consider the claims of other similar establishments which have been solely devoted to the manufacture of munitions; and whether, in that case, he will investigate the claims to consideration of the Greet lands munition works?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWoolwich is in a very exceptional position, and in any case, I am informed that, as the factory and plant at Greetlands was designed for the production of chemicals, it would not be suitable for locomotive wagon building.
§ Mr. SHORTWho placed the orders for these wagons at Woolwich—the Ministry of Transport, the Prime Minister, or the Government?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am not quite sure, but I think the railway companies.