66. Captain TERRELLasked the Minister of Transport if he will state what response has been made by the various railway companies to his demand put forward through the Railway Executive Board, that they should provide a large additional number of railway wagons to meet the crisis in transport; and will he state the actual number they have undertaken to supply?
Sir R. WILLIAMSI am not aware of any demand such as that to which the hon. Member refers, but the whole question of an increase in the number of wagons available is the subject of constant discussion between the Ministry and the railway companies. Every effort is being made to expedite the increase in the number of wagons in use.
§ Mr. WATERSONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that many men from the railway service are retained in the Army and cannot get back to the industry and that that is the cause of the delay in transport?