§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he proposes to investigate the wastage of tons of plums sent from the South of England to Scotland owing to faulty rail transport arrangements; and what action will be taken to avoid in future such waste of food?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI am informed that some consignments of plums from Southern England were unfit for human consumption when they arrived in Scotland. I am glad, however, to be able to assure my hon. Friend that they were only a small proportion of the total quantity transported. The railway companies have made every effort in their power to ensure that these plums, and all soft fruit sent by rail, shall have rapid transit. But I would remind my hon. Friend that even in peace-time there was always a certain wastage during transport to market. At the present time, when the demands on the railways are so heavy, there are bound to be occasional delays on long journeys, such as that from Kent to Scotland, from which highly perishable goods must suffer.