§ 16. Mr. Sparksasked the Minister of Transport the freight traffic tonnage originating on the four main line railways, including free hauled, for 1947 to the nearest convenient date, and for the comparable periods in 1937 and 1938, indicating what factors are responsible for any reductions, and by what percentages the figures for 1947 compare with 1937 and 1938.
§ Mr. CallaghanAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SparksWill the figures confirm the answer given last Monday, that there was an increase of 20 per cent. in railway freight traffic this year compared with 1938?
§ Mr. CallaghanIt depends on what is meant by "freight traffic" In the answer given last week it was defined in terms of ton-miles. This is given in terms of the actual traffic originating, so the basis will be different.
§ Following is the answer:
§ Particulars of the amount of railway freight traffic inclusive of free-hauled traffic are not available since the war.
§ The volume of originating freight traffic exclusive of free hauled traffic on the main line railways (including certain associated lines) during the first 36 weeks of 1937, 1938 and 1947 was as follows: 794
| First 36 weeks | ||||
| (000 tons) | ||||
| 1937 | … | … | … | 204,008 |
| 1938 | … | … | … | 184,702 |
| 1947 | … | … | … | 171,989 |
§ The originating traffic for the current year is thus about 15½ per cent. below that of 1937 and 7 per cent. below that of 1938.
§ The traffic figures for 1947 have been adversely affected by the exceptionally bad weather in the early part of the year.