HC Deb 20 March 1940 vol 358 cc1966-8
29. Mr. Burke

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take regarding the dissatisfaction among many firms in Burnley with the inadequate petrol supplies for delivery of goods by road; and whether he is aware that the policy of instructing firms to send by rail is adding to the difficulties of the railways, who cannot supply containers for many classes of goods or cope with the existing traffic?

Captain Wallace

As the amount of fuel available for the movement of goods by road is limited, it is necessary, in order that it shall be used to the best advantage in the national interest, to divert to other means of transport a certain amount of traffic normally carried by road. In any case where the Regional Transport Commissioner is satisfied that reasonable alternative transport facilities are not available for essential traffic, supplementary fuel rations for movement by road will be granted. Restrictions in the supply of petrol are, I regret, bound to cause inconvenience, but I am not aware that there is any special ground for dissatisfaction in Burnley. The number of railway containers available for the country as a whole is limited, but I understand that the present requirements of Burnley firms are being met.

Mr. Burke

Is not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that a number of firms, the names of which I have sent him, are complaining that they are told to transport their goods on the railways, when the railways are absolutely choked with goods which they cannot move at the present time?

Captain Wallace

I am afraid that that does not alter the answer which I have given. We have a certain amount of petrol to allocate for goods transport, and we must use it to the best advantage in the national interest, irrespective of the interests of particular firms.

Mr. Silverman

Is the Minister aware that one result of the congestion on the railways produced by the matters to which my hon. Friend has called attention has been that mills all over Lancashire have been held up because they cannot get coal delivered, and that the loss in the value of export goods resulting from that is really very large indeed; and cannot he do something to assist in that matter?

Captain Wallace

There is another Question on coal on the Paper, to which I shall reply in a moment.

Mr. J. Hollins

Would the Minister consider advising those people who cannot send goods by rail to take advantage of the canal system which has been driven out of business by the railway companies?

Captain Wallace

There is also another Question on canals on the Paper.

30. Mr. Burke

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will release extra supplies of petrol to firms in Burnley for road-haulage work in order that the rail ways may more easily deal with the problem of improving the serious position in regard to the town's coal supply?

Captain Wallace

I am not aware that the railways are experiencing any difficulty in transporting coal to Burnley.

Mr. Burke

Does the Minister not know that last week in Burnley 8,000 looms were stopped because they could not get coal, and that if he will refer to the Secretary for Mines he will find out what is the state of coal supplies in Burnley at the present time?

Captain Wallace

I have consulted with my hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines, and I must still stick to my statement, that I am not aware that the railways have experienced any difficulty in transporting coal to Burnley.

31. Mr. Burke

asked the Minister of Transport what instructions have been issued by his Department or by Regional Commissioners regarding petrol supplies for long-distance road-haulage; and what mileage in the case of Burnley is regarded as a long distance?

Captain Wallace

No hard and fast rules have been laid down as to what is or is not long-distance haulage. The essential criterion in dealing with applications for supplementary rations is whether the traffic should, in the national interest, go by road or whether, in view of the shortage of fuel, it should preferably be carried by some other form of transport.

Mr. Burke

Is the Minister not aware that 70 to 75 miles has been laid down by the local officer as being too far for petrol supplies to be allowed and that there are other firms who distribute in Burnley from longer distances, with consequent great disadvantage to Burnley firms from the point of view of competition? Will he look into the general position in Burnley as I can assure him that it is very unsatisfactory?

Captain Wallace

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I have looked very carefully at the general position at Burnley, in view of the representations made to me by him on more than one occasion. But it is not a question of any arbitrary limit of 75 miles or any other distance; it is a question of how urgent it is to move particular goods and whether there are goods which, without being detrimental to the national interest, might be moved by some other form of transport, thereby relieving petrol for more urgent uses.

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