§ 40. Mr. Spearmanasked the Minister of War Transport, in connection with the nationalisation proposals for transport, if it is intended that the assets of dock and harbour undertakings will be acquired by the State, or whether the existing owner ships are to be continued; and what are the appropriate ancillary activities he has in mind in connection with his proposals.
§ Mr. BarnesAs to the first part of the Question, I am unable at present to add anything to the statement recently made by my right hon. Friend, the Lord President. As to the second part, among the ancillary activities I have in mind as requiring examination are functions in regard to navigation and pilotage.
§ 41. Mr. Spearmanasked the Minister of War Transport, in connection with the nationalisation proposals for transport, what is to be the position of the L.P.T.B.; and if it is to be acquired by the State or remain in private ownership.
§ Mr. BarnesI would remind the hon. Member that the L.P.T.B. is already a public authority. Whether any modifications in its statutory position will be desirable in connection with the general reorganisation of transport is a matter which, as my right hon. Friend the Lord President indicated in his recent statement, is being duly considered.
§ 42. Mr. Spearmanasked the Minister of War Transport, in connection with the nationalisation proposals for transport, how he proposes to relate coastwise shipping which will not be nationalised, to that part of inland transport which it is proposed to nationalise.
§ Mr. BarnesAs my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council indicated on 19th November, the relationships between coastwise shipping and inland transport are matters to which I am giving attention, but I am not now ready to make a statement.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIs the Minister aware that all this points to the fact that the Socialist Party have no detailed plan whatever?