HC Deb 21 October 1920 vol 133 cc1081-3
72. Mr. MARSHALL STEVENS

asked the First Commissioner of Works the number of railway wagons owned or controlled by his Department; what reasons, if any, he can advance why they are more usefully employed under the control of his Department than they would be if controlled by the Minister of Transport; if he will give particulars as to the time railway wagons owned by his Department were under-load, empty, and in transit for the four weeks ended 20th June, 1920, the four weeks ended 18th July, and for the past four weeks, respectively; and what number are now unemployed

The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Sir Alfred Mond)

There are 1,405 wagons under the control of my Department. Of this number, 365 are used for coal traffic and were under load and in transit during the whole period referred to by the hon. Member. The remaining 1,040 wagons are used in connection with the housing schemes which are being caried out by my Department. I regret that it is not possible to give the figures in the form asked for, but the average number of days each wagon was lying empty during the period in question was as follows:—

4 weeks ending June 20th … 3½ days
4 weeks ending July 18th … 4 days
4 weeks ending October 16th … 3 days
The number at present in use is 1,265. I do not consider that any advantage would be gained by transferring these wagons to the Ministry of Transport, but I will consider the possibility of releasing a portion of them as circumstances permit.

Mr. STEVENS

Is not the right hon Gentleman aware that a number of these wagons have been lying idle at Chepstow for a considerable time, and also is he not aware that if the wagons were under the control of the Ministry of Transport, the whole of the statistics asked for would be included in the statistics published?

Sir A. MOND

The wagons the hon. Member refers to in Chepstow are loaned to the Ministry of Shipping and are not under my control. I do not propose to give up control of these wagons which are very necessary for carrying out the work of the Department.

Mr. STEVENS

Is it not the fact that the wagons I refer to at Chepstow bear the name of the First Commissioner of Works, and is it not the fact that they have been lying idle at Chepstow for months?

Sir A. MOND

It is quite true these wagons belong to His Majesty's Office of Works, but they have been loaned to the Ministry of Shipping, and therefore I have no direct information of them.

Lieut.-Colonel CROFT

If the right hon. Gentleman can loan wagons, does he really require them?

Sir A. MOND

That does not quite follow. I am informed that more wagons are required to carry out additional housing.

Captain TERRELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman get the wagons back at once?

Sir A. MOND

I will communicate with the Ministry of Shipping. I understand that the hon. Member has a question down to the Ministry of Shipping on the subject.

Mr. W. THORNE

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has only got control of the wagons or control of the building material that is distributed in the various areas?

Sir A. MOND

I regret to say I have not.

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

How long have they been loaned?

Sir A. MOND

I cannot say. I would require notice of that question.