§ 9. Mr. James Griffithsasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware 108 that recently a number of wagons of coal were brought from Ellestown, in Leicestershire, to Llanelly, South Wales, for the use of a Government service; and whether he will consult with the Department concerned to make arrangements to draw their supplies of coal from the near-by coal mines, and thus avoid the cost and waste involved in conveying coal from the Midlands to South Wales?
§ Captain WallaceYes, Sir. I have, with the assistance of my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines, investigated the circumstances of this case, which did not involve wasteful use of trucks, since large numbers have to be returned empty from the Midlands to South Wales. I agree, however, that in present conditions economy in the use of transport demands that supplies of fuel should be drawn from the nearest suitable and available source.
§ Mr. GriffithsDo I understand that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman does not regard it as a waste to bring coal from Leicestershire to Llanelly in South Wales?
§ Captain WallaceIn this case it was not a waste as the trucks had to go back in any case.