asked the Minister of Transport what are the principal factors likely to produce abnormal difficulties in railway transport operations during the coming autumn and winter months.

The principal factor is likely to be the continuing shortage of locomotives and wagons, especially the latter. The effect of this shortage would of course be accentuated if weather conditions in the winter were exceptionally severe. Adverse effects on trade and industry can be mitigated by reducing the turn-round times of wagons at terminals and in particular by loading and unloading wagons on Saturdays at establishments where a 5-day week is being worked.