§ 51. Mr. ERNEST BROWNasked the Minister of Transport if he will state the main conclusions in the Report of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee upon the five Railway (Road Transport) Bills; and if the Advisory Committee made any recommendations to him as to the publication of the Report?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe answer to both parts of this question is in the negative. I would remind the hon. Member that the Bills to which he refers are at present being considered by a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament, and that I have already in my Report to the Committee referred to all the matters to which, in my opinion, it is necessary that I should direct the Committee's attention.
§ Mr. BROWNDid the Advisory Committee make any representations at all about the right hon. Gentleman's action or inaction in connection with the publication of the Report?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThey sent me their views on this important subject.
§ Colonel ASHLEYIt is not usual to publish views on Private Bills given to the Minister.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONIf the right hon. Gentleman does not consider it expedient to publish this Report while the Committee proceedings are taking place upstairs, will he consider whether it would be advisable to publish it before the Third Reading of the Bills takes place here?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo. The very considerable responsibility of tendering advice to the Committee must rest with the Minister, and therefore he has to put forward his views on his own responsibility.
§ Mr. BROWNIs the right hon. Gentleman of the opinion that any comparable situation to the present has ever arisen in connection with the railways and roads?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThat would be a matter of opinion.