§ 47. Mr. ANEURIN WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Transport if he will state what progress has been made by the railway companies, and, in particular, by the North Eastern Railway Company, in providing themselves with new wagons to meet the great dearth of wagons which still exists to the very serious injury of trade?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe statement issued in connection with the Ministry of Transport Estimates, 1920-21 (Cmd. 654), shows that during the three months ended 30th November, 1919, and 29th February, 1920, the average numbers of new wagons put into traffic monthly by the railway companies in Great Britain were 888 and 1,668 respectively. For the three months ended May, 1920, the average number per month was 1,969. The corresponding figures for the North Eastern Railway for these three periods were 231, 455, and 718 respectively.
Captain COOTEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of these new wagons are still of the old small and uneconomical type?
§ Sir E. GEDDESYes; it will take some time before we can get on to larger wagons generally.
§ Mr. GRITTENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since the institution of his Ministry the general traffic conditions of the North East Coast have been worse confounded than ever?
§ Sir E. GEDDESNo, I am not aware of it. The North Eastern Railway are doing far more work than before the War.