§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the right hon. Member for Cambridge whether he can state the progress he is making with the purchase of privately-owned railway wagons; whether, to allay the anxiety of traders, he can state what will be the Government policy, in case of purchase, in respect of the allocation of these wagons to each firm so as to secure a regular daily supply; and whether he has formed the estimate of the shortage, if any, of such rolling stock?
§ Mr. SHORTTMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. As the Bill to set up a Ministry of Ways and Communications, in which power is sought to purchase privately-owned wagons has not yet become law, no steps in this direction can be taken by my right hon. Friend. It is not anticipated that the purchase and common use of wagons can in any way cause a shortage of rolling stock.