asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the delays in the delivery of parcels by the railways as a result of the extra traffic thrown upon them because of the restrictions placed upon road transport; that these delays are holding up work and causing unemployment; and what steps he is taking to remedy the matter so that road transport may play its full part in keeping the industries of the country running efficiently?

The war has inevitably thrown a heavy burden on the railways and made some degree of delay unavoidable, but no specific cases of any special delays in the delivery of parcels whether as a result of extra traffic or otherwise have been brought to my notice. If it is the case that there are delays of this character which are holding up work and causing unemployment I should be glad to have particulars. Subject to the overriding need for rationing the consumption of imported fuel, all possible steps are being taken to enable road transport to play its full part in keeping the industry of the country running efficiently.

If I submit details to the right hon. Gentleman will he undertake to go into them?

Certainly.