§ Sir C. Rawsonasked the Minister of Transport how many thousands of loaded wagons of coal have been standing in colliery sidings for weeks awaiting removal by the railway companies; whether he is aware that a colliery near Mansfield states that the northern railway companies will not be bothered with small consignments and will only deal with full train loads, but in spite of an order being placed for 120 wagons for Brighton and Chichester districts, where conditions are abnormal owing to the presence of many thousands of evacuees, deliveries cannot be obtained; and will he take immediate steps to remedy the existing deadlock which is gravely affecting public health and industry?
§ Captain WallaceDuring the past two weeks the number of loaded wagons of coal cleared from collieries each day by the railways serving the main colliery districts has invariably exceeded the number of loaded wagons on hand in the collieries at the beginning of the day. As regards the second part of the Question, I am not aware that the railway1562W companies have refused to accept coal in other than full train loads. If my hon. Friend will be good enough to furnish me with particulars of the order for 120 wagons, I will make inquiries, and if the difficulty proves to be one of transport, I will certainly do my best to help.