HC Deb 27 October 1943 vol 393 c192
72. Sir H. Williams

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport the date of the last meeting of the Transport Advisory Council created under the provisions of the Road-Rail Act?

Mr. Noel-Baker

The last meeting of the Transport Advisory Council was held on 30th May, 1940.

Sir H. Williams

Can my hon. Friend say why this statutory body has been put into cold storage instead of performing its appropriate duties?

Mr. Noel-Baker

It was felt that it was a large and numerous body not well adapted for the purposes of war, and its duties are now being performed by the Inland Transport War Council.

Sir H. Williams

But is it not the case that one is a statutory body, has powers, and duties, and that the other is non-statutory and informal? By what right has the Minister superseded a statutory body by a body which has no authority?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I think that this has received the authority of Parliament for three years in the sense that it has not been challenged. If the hon. Member will put down another Question, I will give him another answer.