§ Mr. MacLarenasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the amount of labour, space and time now wasted on the railway transport systems in conveying and handling non-essential goods such as ice-cream containers, etc.; and whether he will take steps to relieve railway traffic by stopping such traffic during the war?
§ Colonel LlewellinIn order to eliminate unnecessary transport we have been looking closely into the distribution of foodstuffs, including ice-cream, in consultation with my right hon. and Noble Friend the Minister of Food, and steps have already been taken in a number of cases where we have found wasteful use of transport. Meanwhile, when railway conditions make it necessary to restrict acceptance of traffic, preference is given to essential commodities.