HC Deb 07 December 1938 vol 342 cc1185-6W
Mr. Benjamin Smith

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any figures showing the volume of road-haulage business carried on by the railway companies and their contractors, and the amount of capital invested by the railway companies in road transport undertakings?

Mr. Burgin

In 1937 the tonnage of non-railborne merchandise traffic conveyed by the four Main Line Railway Companies under their Road Transport Acts of 1928 was 859,153 tons. No information is available as to the volume carried by contractors. The amount of capital invested by the four Main Line Railway Companies in other road transport undertakings at the 31st December, 1937, was approximately £4,400,o0o in undertakings mainly engaged in goods transport and £9,300,000 in undertakings mainly engaged in passenger transport.

Mr. Benjamin Smith

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give the number of cases in which the railway companies have opposed the granting of carriers' licences for road transport since the passage of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933?

Mr. Burgin

This information could only be obtained by re-examination of the applications, numbering well over 250,000 which have been made for "A" and "B" licences or licence variations since the Act came into operation. Particulars of certain objections are given in the published Annual Reports of the Licensing Authorities.

Mr. Benjamin Smith

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the number of workers employed in connection with the mechanical transport of goods by road and the number of persons employed on the railways?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The total number of persons employed by the railway companies of Great Britain during the week ended the 12th March, 1938, including the London Passenger Transport Board and the Railway Clearing House was 607,278. Comparable statistics are not available in respect of the numbers employed in connection with the mechanical transport of goods by road, but I would refer the hon. Member to the estimates given by my right hon. Friend in moving the Second Reading of the Road Haulage Wages (No. 2) Bill on 11th May last.