HC Deb 10 March 1947 vol 434 cc956-7
84. Sir Ronald Ross

asked the Minister of Transport how soon the cross-channel sailings between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, that were taken off in consequence of the coal emergency, will be restored; and whether cancellation of cross-channel services was confined to those between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr. Barnes

The steamship service between Heysham and Belfast, which was reduced to save coal on both rail and sea, will be resumed as a daily service when the volume of passenger and freight traffic makes this course necessary. In addition to the Heysham—Belfast service, the day service between Holyhead and Kingstown has been suspended, leaving only the night service in operation.

Sir R. Ross

Will the service be restored to its normal capacity in good time for the Easter holiday, when there is bound to be a large amount of traffic? May I also ask why the invidious distinction is made of cutting the services to Ireland and not cutting any services to the Continent at all?

Mr. Barnes

I could not say whether the service will be restored for the Easter traffic. In regard to the continental services, most of these are oil burning ships, and therefore, the issue of coal does not arise.