HC Deb 07 March 1940 vol 358 cc569-70
76. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now evolved an adequate alternate system to ensure that, in the event of an emergency in which the railways are dislocated, all civilian road transport is fully organised to take the place of the railways?

The Minister of Transport (Captain Wallace)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer on this subject which I gave to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent (Mr. E. Smith) on 31st January, of which I am sending him a copy.

Mr. De la Bère

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that that did not carry us very far? Can he not give us some scheme which is concrete and crystallised and which will make us feel safe in these matters?

Captain Wallace

I hope it will reassure my hon. Friend if I tell him that the Transport Advisory Council are undertaking a review of the position in the light of six months' war experience to determine whether greater efficiency could be obtained by a substantial re-organisation of the arrangements.

Mr. De la Bère

Perhaps my right hon. and gallant Friend will have a word with me afterwards?

Captain Wallace

I shall be delighted.