HC Deb 04 February 1941 vol 368 cc787-9
23. Mr. T. Smith

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can indicate the nature of the reply sent to the Executive Board of the Midland (Amalgamated) District with regard to their note sent to him concerning the loss of coal output consequent upon the shortage of railway wagons?

The Secretary for Mines (Mr. David Grenfell)

In co-operation with my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Transport, I am giving constant attention to the problem of ensuring adequate supplies of empty wagons, not only in the Midland district but also in other coalfields. The action already taken includes the clearance of a large number of wagons standing under load at the docks in South Wales and arrangements for the freer movement of other loaded wagons from that area. Strenuous efforts have been and will continue to be made to speed up the clearance of wagons at depots throughout the country and relief has been given to the railways by restoring certain local coal traffic where practicable to the roads. I am advised that the wagons which were held up on the Great Western and Southern systems during the autumn as a result of the special working difficulties then experienced have now been cleared and are again in service.

Mr. Smith

Can my hon. Friend say whether any reply has been sent to the coalowners and how many of these 24,000 wagons which are surplus to requirements on the Great Western and Southern railways have been transferred to the Midland district, where they are losing at least 250,000 tons of coal a week and some pits are working less than four clays a week?

Mr. Grenfell

I quite see the difficulties, but the coal output in the Midland district is nearly up to the level of last summer. There is a shortage of wagons in more than one district, and I am meeting a deputation from the Midland area today to consider whether something can be done to augment the number of wagons used in that area. The problem is associated with the rate at which wagons can be turned round and the movement of traffic.

Mr. Smith

But my hon. Friend must remember that although the output is nearly up to the level of last summer, it is far below what could be produced if there were more wagons in that area?

Mr. Grenfell

I am sure that is quite right. More coal could be produced if there were more rapid movement of traffic on railways, but there are special conditions, to which I have referred in my answer.

Mr. J. H. Hollins

Will my hon. Friend make more use of the inland waterways of this country?

Mr. Grenfell

We are doing so, but the inland waterways have to have proper boats and people trained to use them. That is being done, and more coal is being moved on canals now than some months ago.