§ Sir L. Lyleasked the Minister of Supply how many letters he has received claiming that the production of munitions is being hampered and made more costly to the nation by the Government's insistence on their transport by rail; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?
§ Mr. Harold MacmillanSome letters have been received on this subject. The rationing of liquid fuel has necessarily resulted in a certain amount of traffic (including munitions traffic) going by rail which might otherwise have gone by road, but I am satisfied that this has not substantially hampered the production of munitions. While in some cases the use of the railway may have involved a greater transport cost, account must also be taken of the saving of shipping space and foreign exchange which results from the rationing of liquid fuel.