§ 25. Sir CHARLES OMANasked the Minister of Transport whether he can give any information as to the date on which the Government Measure implementing the conclusions of the Salter Report will be placed before the House?
Mr. STANLEYThe Government have already indicated their intention to introduce before Easter a Bill to provide for the licensing and better regulation of the transport of goods by road.
§ Sir C. OMANWill the Minister throw a kindly eye on my own little Bill dealing with some small portion of that subject?
Mr. STANLEYPerhaps my hon. Friend will wait to see the introduction of the Bill before he decides whether my eye is kindly or not.
§ 30. Mr. CLARRYasked the Minister of Transport whether, in taking into consideration any action with regard to the Salter Report, he will consult the Report of the National Transportation Committee (United States of America), issued on 15th February, 1933, which was appointed to deal with the road and rail problem in the United States?
Mr. STANLEYMy attention has been drawn to the report to which my hon. Friend refers and I will give it consideration. He will realise, however, that the conditions of transport in the United States of America are, in many ways, not comparable with those in this country.
§ 29. Mr. CLARRYasked the Minister of Transport whether, before implementing all the recommendations of the Salter Report, he will set up a further committee to consider what railway economies can be achieved by the abolition of parallel lines, regional con- 1166 solidations, and elimination of all railways where the transport services rendered can be provided more efficiently by road operators?
Mr. STANLEYNo, Sir. Apart from the fact that the course suggested would inevitably lead to considerable delay, I doubt whether, for the present at any rate, a further committee would be the best means of securing any additional economies which are possible in the direction which the hon. Member has in mind.