§ 104. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that on 19th August 24 empty cases were handed to the L.M.S. Railway at New Cross, London, for dispatch to Wolverhampton; that after 75 days' delay they have not yet been delivered and the railway company have no knowledge of their whereabouts; and if he will investigate the causes of these long delays in goods transport and take steps to prevent them in future.
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§ Mr. BarnesThe L.M.S. have no depot at New Cross, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with information as to the name of the consignee and the name of the railway company to whom the cases were handed I will have further inquiries made.
§ 107. Mr. Championasked the Minister of Transport if he has investigated the complaint of the chaotic state of the rail transport of coal in the North Midlands, sent to him by the hon. Member for South Derbyshire on 21st October and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BarnesYes, Sir. As I have explained to the hon. Member in my letter of 14th November the delay in the area in question was due to an abnormal flow of coal to London and the south of England for building up stocks for the winter. In addition, repair work to the Woodhead Tunnel necessitated a substantial diversion from the London and North Eastern system to the London Midland and Scottish Railway of traffic consigned to London. The situation was further aggravated by a shortage of staff in the traffic movement grades in the London area.