§ 24. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what steps he has taken, in pursuit of oil economy, to secure transfer of passenger and freight traffic from road to rail.
§ Mr. WatkinsonIn determining both the motor fuel ration for public service vehicles and the criteria for the issue of supplementary rations for goods vehicles, one of my main concerns has been to limit fuel consumption as far as practicable to road vehicles catering for traffic which cannot move by other forms of transport. The British Transport Commission is, I know, for its part in close touch with traders and industry to ensure that the maximum possible use is made of rail facilities.
§ Mr. NabarroWould my right hon. Friend have special regard to coal and coal-class traffic? Is he aware that many millions of tons of coal are still being moved in thimblefuls to power stations and gas works by road haulage vehicles? [An HON. MEMBER: "Private enterprise."] No, some of it is by B.R.S. As this is essentially traffic which is suitable to, and ought to be moved by, rail in all circumstances, will my right hon. Friend take urgent and dynamic steps to secure that result?
§ Mr. WatkinsonMy hon. Friend is dealing with a very good point, and I have already given that kind of instruction to my regional traffic commissioners.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussAre we to understand from that Question and Answer that an important section of the Conservative Party now believes that in all circumstances—I repeat, in all circumstances—the Government should take action to divert traffic from road to rail where that is economically justifiable?
§ Mr. WatkinsonWhat the House might understand from the Question and Answer is that it is clearly in the national interest that the railways, which are 20 per cent. under-loaded in respect of freight, should at present be fully loaded in order to save petrol.