§ 38. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if, in view of the heavy wastage of seed potatoes on rail from Scotland to England in the recent hard weather, he will consult the British Transport Commission to ensure that measures are taken to protect such perishable produce from frost damage by adequate straw packing and sheeting of trucks.
Mr. AmoryMy Department has been in touch with the British Transport Commission and I am assured that the Commission is doing all it can to help in the matter. Responsibility for the actual loading of wagons with seed potatoes, including adequate frost protection, rests with the consignors.
§ Mr. HurdIs it not the responsibility of British Railways to provide adequate sheeting? I think one can accept that it is the responsibility of the consignor to straw the potatoes but surely the overall cover should be provided by British Railways, and that responsibility is being avoided.
Mr. AmoryMy information is that when covered wagons cannot be provided British Railways does provide sheets.