HL Deb 19 June 1951 vol 172 cc119-20

2.42 p.m.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is now intended, owing to the railway difficulties, to move coal from opencast sites by road; and, if so, whether they will make available to the road authorities concerned increased amounts for road maintenance and improvement.]

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, a considerable amount of opencast coal has always been carried by road since opencast working began. I understand that the National Coal Board have recently decided to switch a small additional part of the opencast coal output in the Midlands from rail to road. The Road Fund provision for road maintenance and improvement is allocated in accordance with need, having regard to the condition of the roads and the volume and character of the traffic using them. In cases where the Ministry of Fuel and Power admit liability for damage caused to the roads through opencast coal working itself, and through the transport of coal from the workings to the screening and disposal points, any such damage is made good from central funds on the advice of the Ministry of Transport. I do not think that any other provision is required. It is conceivable that in certain circumstances a claim might lie against the National Coal Board or merchants in respect of extraordinary traffic in transporting coal from the screening and dis- posal points. This would be a matter for the highway authority concerned.

EARL HOWE

While thanking the noble Lord for his reply, may I ask whether he does not agree with me that the road system in this country is a capital asset of the first importance, and that the procedure which he has outlined may entail considerable delay in dealing with the various problems? If I understood the noble Lord aright, he said that where liability was admitted damage caused was made good through central funds; but where liability is not admitted, and there is a difference of opinion, it may take the appropriate authority a long time to hammer the matter out. With regard to road deterioration, perhaps the noble Lord will agree with me that there may well be delay in dealing with these matters, which may mean further deterioration. The noble Lord spoke of a "small amount" of coal from opencast. I should be glad to know what in his judgment a "small amount" of coal is, and whether he could arrange for extra sums to be made available to local authorities for the purpose of carrying out necessary repairs with the object of preventing this cause of further deterioration.

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, the only part of the noble Earl's supplementary question with which I can agree is his opening sentence, which was to the effect that the roads are a capital investment of this country. Experience has proved that the procedure at present adopted does not cause any delay and is quite satisfactory. The Ministry of Fuel and Power are as anxious as we are that the roads should not be subjected to undue wear and tear. They have admitted liability in the past, and the matter has been settled amicably and expeditiously. I do not think there is any need at present to change the existing procedure.