§ 64. Major Petoasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he has compiled a list of Orders and restrictions which could now safely be removed and so benefit public liberties.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerAs my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in answer to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Penrith (Lieut.-Colonel Dower) on 3rd October, the question of revoking Orders and Regulations made under Emergency Powers is kept under constant review. A substantial number of the Orders made by my Noble Friend have already been revoked, and others will be revoked as soon as the reasons for which they were made no longer hold good.
§ Major PetoDoes the Minister realise with what great pleasure that answer will be received all over the country?
§ 71. Sir Leonard Lyleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether his plans for removing unnecessary controls and restrictions after the cessation of hostilities in Europe are yet complete; and whether he can make any interim statement.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerMy Noble Friend will be guided by the general policy of the Government in removing restrictions or controls when the public interest no longer requires that they should be maintained.
§ Sir L. LyleWill the Minister kindly make it known to his staff, and to everybody else he can, that lip-service to freedom is not enough?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerMy staff are always working at this subject, but I would like to assure my hon. Friend that while there is a shortage of labour, equipment and vehicles, many of the so-called restrictions mean, in fact, a much better service and a much more fairly distributed service.