HC Deb 09 November 1959 vol 613 cc22-3
30. Mr. P. Browne

asked the Minister of Power whether he will give a general direction to gas boards always to confer with interested parties before changing their method of transporting coal.

Mr. Wood

No, Sir. I do not think this is an appropriate subject for a general direction.

Mr. Browne

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the port of Bideford has lost a great deal of its sea-borne traffic because the South-Western Gas Board is bringing its coal down by rail and that that was done without any prior consultation with interested parties?

Mr. Wood

I have made a number of inquiries about this point. My conclusion is that this is a matter on which the Board must be allowed to exercise its commercial judgment, and I do not see any reason why I should dissent from the judgment which it has exercised.

Back to