HC Deb 20 April 1932 vol 264 cc1461-3
26. Mr. LESLIE BOYCE

asked the Minister of Transport the statistical and financial grounds submitted to him by the railway companies for their assertion that the private car and light motor vehicle are paying too much and the heavy motor vehicle is paying too little towards road costs and burdens according to the user of the roads?

Mr. PYBUS

As the matter to which my hon. Friend refers is one within the terms of reference of the Conference on Rail and Road Transport, he will I hope agree that it would be inadvisable at this stage to publish the data submitted by one side.

27. Mr. BOYCE

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the railway companies have to pay local rates upon their profits and that similar contributions are not made by road transport undertakings, if he will undertake to introduce legislation to equalise the burdens between these two competing systems of transport?

Mr. PYBUS

I will bear my hon. Friend's point in mind when I come to review the whole problem of the relations between rail and road transport. The matter is one, however, upon which the local authorities may desire to make representations.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Will the result of the hon. Gentleman's consultation be embodied in legislation to be introduced this year or next year?

Mr. PYBUS

I cannot give any undertaking at present.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

It will require legislation?

Mr. PYBUS

I have not yet received any recommendations whatever from the conference.

28. Mr. BOYCE

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the recent advertised running of lorries, with trailers and carrying a load of 16 tons, on a 560-miles non-stop journey from London to Aberdeen in 31½ hours; and whether, in view of the undesirable character of this road transport, he will say what expenditure of public money, as represented in the cost of roads used by these vehicles, has been necessary in order to enable the service to be run?

Mr. PYBUS

Yes, Sir, my attention has been drawn to this matter, but I regret that sufficient information is not available to enable me to give the figure for which my hon. Friend is asking.

Mr. BOYCE

Will the hon. Gentleman bear this and similar cases in mind when the Government are considering a long-term policy for the co-ordination of the transport services of the country?

Mr. PYBUS

Yes, certainly.