§ Mr. SPEAKERThe next Amendment that I shall call is that in the name of the Minister to the First Schedule, but that will not cut out the Amendment in the name of the hon. Member for St. Rollox (Mr. Leonard), in page 40, line 6, at the end, to insert the words: "Co-operative Union, Limited … 1".
§ 7.27 p.m.
Mr. STANLEYMy Amendment is on page 40, line 7, to leave out from the beginning to the end of the Schedule, and to insert instead thereof the words:
| "Local authorities in England and Wales | 4 |
| Local authorities in Scotland | 2 |
| Users of mechanically - propelled vehicles | 5 |
| Users of horses and horse-drawn vehicles | 1 |
| Users of roads other than as above mentioned— | |
| Pedestrians | 1 |
| Pedal cyclists | 1 |
| Railways | 2 |
| Canals (other than canals owned or controlled by a railway company) | 1 |
| Coastwise shipping | 1 |
| Harbours and docks (other than harbours and docks owned or controlled by a railway company) | 1 |
| Labour | 3 |
| Trading interests (including agriculture) | 5" |
§ This Amendment deals with the Transport Advisory Council which is to be set up under the Bill. I have, as the result of the discussion which took place in Committee, put down a new Schedule 2071 which sets out the representatives to be accorded to different interests upon that council. Hon. Members will realise that in addition to the members set out in the Schedule, the Minister himself will have the right of appointment of three other Members. It would be as well, before we discuss the various claims of various interests which feel themselves not to have been satisfied in the Schedule, that we should see what are the guiding principles which govern the selection of these representatives. First, let me make it plain that the function of this council is, as its name shows, advisory. I have carefully refrained at any point in this Bill from making anything dependent upon the recommendation of the council. Wherever they are called into play by the statute it will be for consultation, and therefore there will never be a question of a majority and a minority, and of my having to accept something from this council which happens to have received the assent of the majority. We have to get away from the idea of counting heads and from trying to base the representation of various interests on a desire to give them majorities.
§ It being half-past Seven of the clock, and there being Private Business set down by direction of the CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS, under Standing Order No. 8, further Proceeding was postponed without Question put.