HC Deb 06 March 1940 vol 358 cc392-5
75. Mr. J. Hall

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that one of the contributory causes of the coal shortage is the present rate of the demurrage charges for coal wagons; and whether the shortage of supplies will not be intensified by the decision to increase demurrage rates?

Captain Wallace

The object of the increased demurrage charges is to secure the speedier turn-round of wagons, which is essential if the railways are to meet the demands upon them, in particular for the carriage of a greatly increased tonnage of coal. As I explained on 6th December in reply to the hon. Member for Llanelly (Mr. J. Griffiths), these Regulations were decided upon only after an appeal by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and myself to trade and industry for a voluntary speed-up had failed to produce the desired result. Under existing conditions I could not contemplate a return to the practice of detaining wagons under load which existed before the more stringent demurrage Regulations came into operation.

Mr. Hall

Is the Minister aware that despite the fact that there is a necessity for mobility of these wagons, the demurrage rates create an excessive caution in the minds of coal merchants, with the result that they are not taking steps which they ought to take at normal times?

Captain Wallace

If we were to go back on these demurrage Regulations, we might cure one evil in the sense of reassuring coal merchants, but we should create a very much worse one by in effect reducing the number of wagons available for the carriage of goods on the railways.

Mr. Hall

Would the right hon. and gallant Gentleman be prepared to meet representatives of the coal merchants to see whether a point cannot be reached at which the object they have in mind can be effected?

Captain Wallace

Most certainly. I am only too anxious to get the best use out of the wagons with the least possible inconvenience to anybody.

Mr. Holdsworth

Can the Minister give any proof to the House that demurrage is quickening the use of these wagons? Is it not idle to say that the weather conditions have created a shortage of coal? The cause of the short orders given by the merchants arose from the demurrage charges.

Captain Wallace

I have not come armed with any precise figures but if my hon. Friend will put down a Question, I will give him the latest information I have. I am very glad to take this opportunity of informing the House that the introduction of the demurrage regulations has very appreciably decreased the period of stand age of railway wagons under load.

77. Mr. Thorne

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the proposal of the railway companies to increase the demurrage rates of coal wagons from 6½d. per day after three to four days, to a daily rate of 3s. after 48 hours, as from 1st March, and from the 1st April the same increased daily rate is to apply after 24 hours; and what action he intends taking about the matter?

Captain Wallace

The present demurrage charges were authorised by Regulations which were made by me and came into force on the 15th December. The 6½d. per day to which the hon. Member refers was not a demurrage charge but a rent for the occupation of a railway siding by a privately-owned wagon. As I explained on 6th December, when announcing my intention to make the new demurrage Regulations, the 48 hours' free time allowed to coal merchants until 31st March was a special concession to enable them to make such arrangements by the provision of storage accommodation or otherwise as will enable them to comply with the requirements imposed on all other traders that wagons shall be released within 24 hours.

Mr. Thorne

Is the Minister aware that it will mean simply that coal will be emptied out of the wagons on to the ground and that will be an extra charge on the coal?

Mr. Holdsworth

Are there not now no private wagons?

Captain Wallace

In my answer I was referring to before the war, when private ownership of wagons still existed.

Captain Strickland

Is the Minister aware that it takes as much as 10 days to bring coal two miles into Coventry and that it is then brought in such large quantities that it is impossible for the coal merchants to clear it in 48 hours?

Captain Wallace

I have stated to the House on more than one occasion, that where any coal merchant can show that owing to the conditions under which coal was delivered to him it is impossible for him to comply with the demurrage Regulations no charge will be made.

Mr. Holdsworth

Why put them to all that trouble?

Mr. De la Bère

Are there not too many Regulations and not enough common sense?