§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Transport if he has studied the proposals contained in the memorandum prepared by the British Electrical Manufacturers, a copy of which has been sent to him, for safeguarding the future of heavy electrical plant exports, especially for the heavy indivisible electrical plant shipped for export from Trafford Park, Manchester, Stafford, Hollinwood, Rugby and Birmingham, which concern increased costs and changed designs due to lack of direct transport facilities; and what reply he has made.
§ Mr. MarplesI understand that the hon. Member is referring to the memorandum submitted to the Ministry of War Transport in November, 1944, and subsequently published. This was fully considered before the Ministry agreed in 1947 to establish a network of roads capable of carrying heavy abnormal indivisible loads between the main centres of manufacture and the ports. The centres mentioned by the hon. Member are now all connected to ports by this network. On modern vehicles it has proved possible to move loads of up to and over 200 tons net from all but one of these centres. From Rugby loads of up to 170 tons net have been moved. Manufacturers of heavy electrical apparatus in the London area should also be able, within the next few years, to export plant of the same size.
I am most grateful to the manufacturers, the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers Association and the Central Electricity Generating Board for their close and willing co-operation with the Department in dealing with the difficult problem of the transport of heavy electrical plant.