§ Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Transport to what extent the building of railway wagons is being held up; and to what extent the existing capacity for building is unused.
§ Mr. BarnesThe wagon building programme for 1949 is limited to the extent that there is a shortage of materials. The spare capacity in railway shops will be used for repairing carriages which would otherwise be broken up and for wagon repairs. I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply that contractors' capacity, which would otherwise be unused will, so far as possible, be diverted to export.