§ Sir W. Jenkinsasked the Minister of Transport whether he is satisfied with the progress made with the clearance of coal from sidings in West Wales by the railway companies; is he aware that in the Neath Valley colliery sidings are blocked up with loaded wagons labelled out, but no clearance; and will he expedite matters?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonDuring recent months more coal was conveyed from South Wales to inland destinations than in the corresponding period of either of the two preceding years, but in spite of this there was a large tonnage of coal traffic which could not be cleared currently from the collieries owing to the demands made upon the railway by other important traffics. As a result of special efforts which have been made to rail more coal from the area there is now no excessive standage of loaded wagons. Arrangements have recently been made which should provide for a further increase in the tonnage of coal conveyed to inland destinations outside Wales. These arrangements came into force on 27th January, and since then the quantity of coal cleared from the collieries shows a considerable increase over previous weeks.