HC Deb 18 October 1939 vol 352 c847
10. Mr. De la Bere

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in connection with the Government's new road-rail plan, he will give an assurance that the railways have sufficient trucks, adequate loading and unloading facilities and cranes to handle the increased volume of traffic that they may be called on to do?

The Minister of Transport (Captain Wallace)

I can assure my hon. Friend that no road-rail scheme will be approved that aims at diverting to the railways a greater measure of traffic than they are likely to be capable of handling.

Mr. De la Bere

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend tell the House who is responsible for the stupefying absurdity in thinking that all long distance traffic should go by rail and not by road? Does he realise that it is of more national importance to-day than ever that road traffic should continue, and that rail traffic, as a result of the restrictions of lighting, is 30 per cent. less efficient than it was prior to the war?

Captain Wallace

As far as I am aware, nobody has made the stupefying suggestion that all long distance traffic should be carried by rail and not by road.

Mr. A. Reed

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the railway companies are always advising traders that they cannot take goods before periods of from five to ten days?