HC Deb 12 May 1947 vol 437 cc1083-4
83. Sir Ronald Ross

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that sailing tickets for journeys to Northern Ireland are being brought into use early next month; and whether it is possible to avoid this serious inconvenience to the travelling public by putting more cross-channel steamers into use.

Mr. Barnes

Yes, Sir. Reintroduction for the summer period is necessary to avoid the inconvenience to the travelling public which would otherwise be experienced during a period of heavy travel. All

The following statement, based on information supplied by the Board of Trade, shows the number of vessels that arrived and departed with cargo at the port of London during each month from January, 1946, to March, 1947, inclusive:
— Arrived. Departed.
Foreign Trade. Coasting Trade. Total. Foreign Trade. Coasting Trade. Total.
1946.
January … 191 674 865 256 218 474
February … 190 621 811 217 225 442
March … 226 770 996 225 338 563
April … 269 620 889 301 277 578
May … 271 711 982 322 290 612
June … 307 643 950 293 287 580
July … 355 672 1,027 347 246 593
August … 388 611 999 326 276 602
September … 423 687 1,110 330 253 583
October … 455 761 1,216399 267 666
November … 393 725 1,118 364 247 611
December … 417 702 1,119 338 256 594
1947
January … 371 736 1,107 312 247 559
February … 308 682 990 259 221 480
March … 399 801 1,200 296 293 589

available vessels will be in use at the peak periods.

Sir R. Ross

Does that mean that all the vessels normally employed and built for those services will be used, and would the right hon. Gentleman say what he considers to be the peak period?

Mr. Barnes

I do not wish to convey the impression that it will make their maximum number of sailings possible. We must have regard to the overall coal savings which the railways and similar services must obtain during this period, but undoubtedly they will be augmented.

Sir R. Ross

Will the right hon. Gentleman say if other services besides those carrying people to Ireland will make a similar saving? So far it is entirely confined to services to Ireland.

Back to