Statement on Coach Use Coming
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RAR. ALFRED BARNES, Minister of 1Y1 Transport, hopes to make an early statement on the use of coaches. " Indignation " was alleged in Parliament to have been expressed throughout the country at the continued use of large fleets of coaches to carry spectators on long journeys to football matches.
Asked how many coaches were licensed to carry passengers from Reading to Birmingham on January 10, to view a F.A. football match, the amount of petrol used, and whether the number of vehicles for this journey was limited in any way, the Minister replied that six coaches were operated under licence for public excursions, and consumed 114 gallons of petrol. Private parties used 71coaches, consuming 1.147 gallons of petrol and 175 gallons of Diesel oil,
In answer to a question regarding the Government's estimated highway expenditure for 1948-49, the Minister stated: " Subject to approval of the Parliamentary Estimate, the proposed ir.26 Government highway expenditure in 1948-49. including payments in respect of trunk roads and grants to highway authorities in respect of classified roads, is £24,711,000."
Mr. Hugh Gaitskell, Minister of Fuel and Power, asked what quantity of motor fuel was sanctioned for use by hire cars and taxis during the last quarter of 1946 and 1947 respectively, gave the figures as 61,923 tons for the four months ended December 31, 1946, and 62,167 tons foi• the same period in 1947.
The President of the Board of Trade, Mr. Harold Wilson, said that there was still some difficulty in replacing tractor tyres, but that the number of tyres supplied increased from 16,575 in the first quarter of 1947 to 40,683 in the fourth quarter. Further increases were planned. In 1947, Approximately 67 per cent, of tractor tyres produced were supplied for new tractors, 31 per cent. for the home market, and 2 per cent. for export.