HC Deb 19 March 1940 vol 358 cc1827-8W
Captain Medlicott

asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that certain schools in the county of Norfolk have had to be temporarily closed owing to the difficulty of obtaining supplies of fuel; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

Mr. Lloyd

No, Sir. I had not previously received any intimation of schools in Norfolk being closed for lack of fuel. My present information is that nine village schools in Norfolk were closed for various reasons, but have now reopened.

Sir C. Rawson

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that Doncaster Collieries Association have stated to the Brighton coal merchants that the congestion of loaded wagons awaiting removal runs into thousands of trucks; that they are unable to obtain relief owing to the failure of the northern railway companies to remove the wagons to their destinations; that the New Hucknall Colliery Company has a stop from the Welbeck pit on all traffic south; and a stop from the Bentict and Annesley pits on all traffic south of Kettering; and will he do something at once to relieve the acute shortage in Brighton and Hove?

Mr. Lloyd

I am informed by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Transport that the two railway companies concerned are regularly removing large trains of loaded wagons from each of the collieries in question, and that following railway working over last week-end there remained at 6 a.m. yesterday only 732 wagons in the sidings of the six pits comprised in the group. As regards the Welbeck pit, I am informed that there has been no restriction on the loading of coal imposed by the London Midland and Scottish Railway, and that the partial embargo, imposed by the London and North Eastern Railway on the loading of coal for stations via Banbury and Neesden, was removed at 9 a.m. on 15th March. No restrictions have been applied on the loading of coal at the Annesley pit, which is served by the London Midland and Scottish Railway. Arrangements have been made for additional supplies of coal to Brighton from the North of England.