Air Station, Culham (Coach Service)

HC Deb 03 April 1950 vol 473 cc846-8

35. Mr. John Hay

asked the Minister of Transport why Messrs. Abingdon Coaches have been ordered to discontinue the private motor-coach service provided by them for naval personnel stationed at Royal Naval Air Station, Culham, proceeding on week-end leave to London; and whether he will make a statement.

43. Surgeon Lieut.-Commander Bennett

asked the Minister of Transport on what grounds men of the Royal Naval Air Station, Culham, Berkshire, were prevented from travelling on week-end leave by motor-coach by his withdrawal of their coach, and so obliged to travel by train.

The Minister of Transport (Mr. Barnes)

Acting under his general instructions to secure all reasonable economy in the consumption of motor fuel, especially where empty running is involved, the Regional Transport Commissioner arranged with the coach company not to use their fuel ration for the service in question. It is in the public interest that the best use should be made of the limited amount of fuel available to operators and that it should not be spent unnecessarily on journeys for which, as in this instance, there are reasonable alternative facilities.

Mr. Hay

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that not only the firm mentioned in the Question, but also four other firms were advised by his Department that unless they stopped this service their allocation of petrol would be cut off completely? Does he and his Department approve of this sort of blackmail?

Mr. Barnes

I should like to look into the question of whether there was an instruction or not. This is a common practice with regional transport commissioners and operators throughout the country. It is to avoid empty running. I am not aware that in this case there was an instruction. My information is that it was a case of the usual practice of co-operation between operators and the regional transport commissioner.

Captain Ryder

Has the right hon. Gentleman consulted the Admiralty in this matter? If so, what are their reactions?

Mr. Barnes

No, Sir. It is not a matter for the Minister. There are general instructions to regional transport commissioners, as I have indicated, to save fuel. At this stage it is a matter for the commissioner and not for overriding decision by the Minister.

Mr. Shurmer

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this sort of thing is happening in other parts of the country, and that it causes difficulty, especially for men going home on week-end leave who have no train facilities available? It cuts down their leave. It hits them very hard.

Mr. Barnes

I quite appreciate the need for every consideration to be given to such circumstances. On the other hand, it is essential, in furtherance of general national policy, that these journeys should not be unduly expensive in fuel consumption. In this case additional facilities were provided which largely met the circumstances.

Mr. Eden

The right hon. Gentleman says that these are matters for regional decision. Will he not agree that the final responsibility is his and, therefore, Parliament's? Will he look at this again to see, if he does not agree with the regional authorities, what other steps he can take?

Mr. Barnes

Yes; but while I do not dispute for a moment that the final decision rests with the Minister, in this case it would mean withdrawing the general instruction about the need to save fuel, which, of course, is a Government one.

Mr. Eden

Can the right hon. Gentleman really say that this decision was taken to save fuel? Is he sure it was not to drive traffic somewhere else?

Mr. Barnes

I can give the assurance that this decision was not taken for the purpose of driving traffic to any other form of transport. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Had there been a scheduled bus service in this case the same decision would have applied. It is in line with the decisions being operated all over the country, to avoid empty running. In this case it would have meant empty running on both the outward and return journeys.

Mr. Peter Smithers

Is the Minister aware that in the case of one city, which is on the main line, and where there is a barracks within a quarter of a mile of the station, a similar order has been introduced? Surely, that cannot save very much petrol.

Mr. Hay

I beg to give notice that in view of the gravity of the matter and the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I shall raise the question again at the earliest possible moment.