HL Deb 03 March 1960 vol 221 cc747-8
EARL HOWE

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is intended to transport large quantities of coal by lorries; if so, which roads, and what class of road, it is intended to use; what are the reasons for this intention and whether this exceptional traffic is likely to damage the roads so used or likely further to complicate traffic congestion on roads already overcrowded.]

THE PAYMASTER GENERAL (LORD MILLS)

My Lords, the means by which coal is transported are not determined by Her Majesty's Government but are left to the free choice of the consumer of coal or the agencies in the coal trade which serve him. This choice is no doubt largely influenced by changing economic factors, but in the year 1959 the proportion of coal carried by road was a little less than in the previous year.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, may I ask whether it is the fact that an announcement was made the other day that in the north of England coal to the extent of 50,000 tons was to be carried by road and not by rail, as it has been hitherto?

LORD MILLS

Yes, my Lords, that is a fact. It was an arrangement come to between the National Coal Board and the British Transport Commission and the users, by which up to that quantity of coal was transferred to the roads for a limited period because of lack of labour on the railways. It is just a short-term arrangement. Actually, about 25,000 tons a week are being moved. It is intended that the coal shall go back to the railways as soon as the railways can handle it.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord very much.

LORD LATHAM

My Lords, would the noble Lord give the figures of the tonnage of coal carried by road in 1959?

LORD MILLS

My Lords, in 1958 it was 34.7 million tons and in 1959 31.4 million tons. That excludes the local deliveries from merchants to houses.

LORD LATHAM

I am much obliged to the noble Lord.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, does this not seem to be a matter of national policy for consideration by the Government? They have both a road problem and a rail problem. Would it not be better to divert as much as possible of this coal traffic to the railways?

LORD MILLS

My Lords, I should not disagree with the noble Viscount in that expression. Coal is an eminently suitable thing for the railways.