§ 97. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the railways to and from the North of Scotland are unnecessarily overburdened by carriage of goods for and from that area which could be delivered by sea at and from Scottish ports; that these ports are ready and willing to deal with all such Scottish traffic; that it is desirable in the interest of both ports and railways that these ports should be fully used; and will he take steps to rectify the present practice.
§ Mr. CallaghanIt is the Government's policy to relieve rail transport by encouraging the use of ports nearest the destination or inland origin of goods and by transferring traffic from rail to coastwise shipping. This has been done with marked success especially in the case of coal, but I shall be glad to consider any specific complaints.