§ 59. Sir HERBERT SAMUELasked the Minister of Transport whether any action is being taken by the Government on the recommendations contained in the first report of the Standing Committee on Mineral Transport?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONAs my right hon. Friend is aware, the principal recommendation contained in the interim 2122 report to the effect that Government financial assistance should be given for the conversion of colliery and other sidings so as to enable them to accommodate 20-ton wagons, has been accepted, and arrangements for giving effect to this recommendation have been made with the railway companies. With regard to the question of anti-breakage appliances, I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines to the question by the hon. Member for Newcastle North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle). The recommendations of the committee with regard to siding rent charges, the prompt working of wagons, arrangements to allow reserves of coal to be maintained in wagons at ports, and the establishment of sales depots at railway stations, have been brought to the notice of the parties concerned, and the committee have been asked to proceed on the lines suggested in their report with the further consideration of such questions as the standardisation and pooling of mineral wagons.
§ Sir H. SAMUELMay I ask whether Treasury assistance involves any ultimate charge on the taxpayer, or is it only by way of guarantee of loan?
§ Mr. MORRISONTo the extent that the Treasury assists railway companies in securing the reconditioning of terminals the Treasury will contribute towards the interest charges.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEWith reference to the case of the mining industry, can the Minister of Transport indicate what proposals the Government have for absorbing miners into the industry or finding them other employment?