§ LORD QUIBELLMy Lords, I beg to ask the Government the question that stands in my name.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government what steps if any they propose to take to secure the fullest possible use of railway rolling stock, and more particularly a mot e prompt return to service of railway wagons held up for days, and in 262 some cases for weeks, without turning a wheel.]
§ LORD WALKDENMy Lords, I am obliged to my noble friend for raising this question which enables me to make a general statement on the supply and movement of railway wagons. Since the beginning of the war, wagons, whether railway or privately-owned, have been pooled and operated as a common stock under day-to-day control of a body known as the Freight Railway Rolling Stock Control which allocates wagons according to varying needs and priorities. Ability to secure the fullest use of the available stock depends upon an adequacy of locomotives, the maintenance of the wagons in running condition and the speed of turn-round of the wagons. The condition of both locomotives and rolling stock has suffered from intensive use during the war and lack of adequate replacement. The speed at which replacements can now be effected and repairs executed depends on the supplies of materials and labour available for these purposes, and special efforts have been, and are continuing to be, directed to improving the repair possibilities and the output of new stock.
The shortage of engines has sometimes hindered the movement of wagons. Some hundreds of "austerity" locomotives built for war service are now being brought back from the Continent and are put into service as they are repaired. A number are also being repaired in Belgium before being shipped back to this country for our own railways. Replacement of outworn wagons is proceeding as quickly as possible, and the Government have ordered 50,000 wagons of a standard r6-ton type, as against the old Io-ton type. Delivery of these began towards the end of last year and it is hoped to obtain about 30,000 in the course of this year. By all these means the present shortages of locomotives and wagons should be adjusted. The fact that in some places numbers of wagons may be found standing in sidings over extended periods may be accounted for by the large arrears of repairs, or some wagons may have been condemned and be awaiting breaking up. Constant pressure is maintained upon consignees to ensure quick unloading and release of wagons and so reduce the turn-round time.
§ LORD QUIBELLIn thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him 263 if he is aware that in one case, of which I have particulars that could not be challenged, about ninety wagons were standing for five weeks, and in that time never turned a wheel? Moreover, instead of demurrage charge after the first three days being a penal payment, the standard charge of Is. 9d. per day rather encourages people to keep wagons instead of turning them round more quickly. Information I could give would be of a very startling character. Demurrage ought to be a penal charge and increase rather than diminish, so that these wagons should come into effective use. If that had happened, we would not have experienced the crisis we have experienced during these last two or three weeks.
§ LORD WALKDENI must confess I am rather surprised at the startling information which my noble friend has just given the House. If he will be kind enough to give me particulars I can assure your Lordships that the case will be carefully inquired into immediately.