HC Deb 02 February 1948 vol 446 cc1454-6
11. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to nationalise the bus service in the West of Scotland.

Mr. Barnes

I am not in a position to say.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Minister aware that, while he is considering this and is not able to say anything, there was an extensive bus strike in the West of Scotland last week; and is he also aware that the S.M.T. Company have declared a dividend of 55 per cent. free of Income Tax? When are the Government going to carry this matter through to its logical conclusion?

Mr. Barnes

The strike is rather a different question. My hon. Friend should be aware that, under the Transport Act, before the Commission can proceed with the policy of dealing with the whole of the bus problem of Scotland, they must proceed by the process of the area scheme. The Commission have power to acquire particular bus operations by agreement, but I am not in a position to say when it is proposed to nationalise the whole of the bus services of Scotland. My hon. Friend knows the procedure that must be followed.

Mr. Frank Byers

In view of the Minister's answers, is it intended to keel the Ministry of Transport in being?

Mr. Barnes

That, of course, is a matter for the Government and the House, whenever they are disposed to tackle the problem.

Mr. Willis

Are we to understand from the Minister that the decision to nationalise the bus service will be left to the Transport Commission and not to him?

Mr. Barnes

The Statute imposing that obligation on the Commission is well defined. Where there is unnecessary delay, the Minister has powers to take the appropriate action. I would remind my hon. Friend that the Commission has only been in operation approximately one month. The task of nationalising the whole of the bus services of Scotland is one upon which, I presume, Scottish opinion will want to have a say from the start.

Mr. David Renton

Will the Minister say to whom the British Transport Commission are answerable for their decisions on this and other matters?

Mr. Barnes

My hon. Friend is just as well aware of the position as I am. The Commission has certain powers that this House has imposed upon it. The Minister has also certain powers, and the questions I have been dealing with today are, in the main, concerned with matters of day-to-day management, which rest fairly and squarely upon the Commission. I am confident that if I were to depart from that position, hon. Members who are criticising me today, would be the first to disagree.

Sir Wavell Wakefield

Is not the Commission responsible to the Minister, and, in that way, is not the Minister responsible for answering these Questions?

Mr. Speaker

That is rather a wide argument. We are dealing only with the bus service in the West of Scotland.

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