HC Deb 16 November 1949 vol 469 cc1996-7
8. Mr. Peter Thorneycroft

asked the Postmaster-General what directives he has issued to postmasters concerning the hiring of the additional transport that they will require for the Christmas traffic; and whether he is satisfied that under it the free road haulage firms can obtain a fair share of this work.

The Postmaster-General (Mr. Wilfred Paling)

My directive on this subject provides for a proportion of local hirings to be made through the Road Haulage Executive where this is possible. There is no intention of excluding other road haulage undertakings and I am satisfied that they can obtain a fair share of Post Office work at Christmas.

Mr. Thorneycroft

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this is a most monstrous arrangement and that in fact postmasters have been told to hand out their short-distance Christmas traffic stuff to the Road Hauliers Executive because there was an undertaking by the Government that there would not be an attempt to squeeze out the short-distance hauliers? This is a deliberate attempt to do so. Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that this is a flagrant breach of the Government's undertaking?

Mr. Paling

I do not realise anything of the kind—indeed I dispute it. The Road Haulage Executive did take over long-distance traffic, and in doing so they took over some short-distance traffic as well. They are entitled to some consideration in this business and they get some, as also do the local hauliers.

Mr. Thorneycroft

Surely the right hon. Gentleman would agree that to hand over the traffic to the principal competitor and say, "Hand on a bit if you can spare it," really is not good enough?

Mr. Paling

I do not agree with anything of the kind. Local hauliers do have opportunities, and it also largely depends on the lowest tender.