asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the number of serviceable locomotives in operation on the four main line railways and the number of serviceable wagons, including private owners, available for freight traffic, at the nearest convenient date and in 1944 and 1938; and by what percentages do freight tonnage weekly averages in 1947 compare with 1944 and 1938.

My right hon. Friend is having this information prepared and will arrange for a statement to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

Is my hon. Friend aware that railway freight tonnages have dropped by 19 per cent. compared with what they were three years ago, that this has meant a reduced demand for locomotives and railway wagons, and that to that extent the railway transport system has been considerably eased? Is he also aware that an important contributory factor to the transport problem is the present inadequate control of the movement of traffic, which leads to prolonged delays to freight trains and other trains, and thus reduces the efficiency of transport operations? Will my hon. Friend look into that side of the transport problem?

I can assure my hon. Friend that these matters are being looked into very carefully indeed to provide the maximum efficiency in transport services in the coming winter.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, owing to the disparity between omnibus and railway fares, many short-distance trains are lightly loaded; and whether he will arrange a more flexible basis of charges so that in appropriate circumstances reduction in the standard railway fares may be applied.

Differences in fares are only one of the factors affecting the distribution of traffic between omnibus and local train services. While there are various types of rail fares designed to meet the needs of different classes of users, including fares below the appropriate standard, local departures from the normal basis of any type of fare create difficulties in relation to other parts of the same railway system. As regards the future system of charges I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne), on 28th July.

While I appreciate the difficulties of arriving at such an arrangement, may I ask my hon. Friend if he does not realise that, while there are queues waiting for buses, many short distance trains are running comparatively lightly loaded; and that it ought not to be an insuperable problem to use both methods of transport in the public interest?

Yes, Sir. I appreciate that, but local variations in train fares are very difficult indeed. The whole problem will, of course, be gone into by the British Transport Commission.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps have recently been taken to obtain the maximum consultation and co-operation between management and staff on day-to-day problems on British railways; and with what results.

Arrangements have been made for meetings, on an area, district, or divisional basis, between representatives of the local departmental committees, the sectional councils, the trade unions and the companies' officers. Difficulties under which the railways are working are discussed and suggestions for dealing with them are considered. It is as yet too early to assess the results but my right hon. Friend is confident that co-operation of this kind between the staff and the management will be of the greatest advantage.

Does my hon. Friend recognise that meetings of this kind are widely welcomed by the staff concerned, and that their use will be invaluable to the transport system and the general economy of the country, if they are fully utilised and the workers brought into consultation on a day-to-day basis?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Minister of Transport the expenditure which is to be incurred in the next two years in improving the railways, detailing in particular the amount of money which will be spent on electrification.

My right hon. Friend is making inquiries and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that up to date there is not a single yard of electric railway in Scotland?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the transport of herring by rail is now slower than at any time during the war; that it frequently takes over 48 hours for the fish to reach the South markets from Fraserburgh and Peterhead; and whether he is taking any steps to improve matters, in view of the loss of valuable food involved.

My right hon. Friend regrets that it has not been possible to complete his inquiries in the time available but he will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that trains get away from Fraserburgh and Peterhead on time, and usually from Aberdeen? It is only as they approach England that the trouble begins.

On a point of Order. Before this Question is asked I wish to put this to you, Mr. Speaker: I had always understood that the use of epithets in Questions on the Order Paper was out of Order. This Question contains the epithet "hostile propagandists." Surely, that is out of Order, according to that rule?

If such a provocative adjective is used, which I always understood was against your ruling, Mr. Speaker, should not the word "truthful" have been used instead of hostile?

I cannot think that "hostile propagandists" is out of Order. It really explains exactly what the hon. Member means by his Question.

Surely, the word "hostile" does, in fact, imply an insinuation or, indeed a misrepresentation. If it was either an insinuation or a misrepresentation, would it be in Order?

I suppose one might just as well say "opposition propagandists."

Is not that the sole intention of it—to be hostile—and nothing else?

Mr. Driberg.

Question No. 21.

I think that the statement my right hon. Friend made on 5th August in announcing the increase in railway charges sufficiently indicated the true causes of the need for such an increase and it received wide publicity. I will, however, bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.

While disclaiming any intention of being a hostile propagandist, may I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that as regards reduction in prices there is no difference in principle between a free railway system and a free vegetable market?

Will the hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that public money will not be spent in putting forward the views of the fatuous propagandists on the Government benches? May I have an answer to that question?

Public money will only be spent in putting forward the facts when the public desire to have the facts and it is desirable that they should have them.

Is it not quite clear that this increase is due to the Government's policy of inflation, whether or not that policy is consciously adopted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer?

No, I do not accept that at all.

rose——

Mr. Cooper.

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. May I point out that there are only 31 Questions on the Order Paper.

The hon. Member does not know how many Private Notice Questions there may be.