§ 17. Mr. Vaughan-Morganasked the Minister of Transport how many meetings of the London Transport Users Consultative Committee have been held during the last 12 months; when the last meeting was held; when the next will be held; and what was the cost of the committee during the last 12 months.
§ Mr. BarnesThis Committee met four times during the last 12 months. Its last meeting was on 14th June, and its next will be on 13th September. No separate figure of the cost is available, but for the year 1950 this Committee, together with the Central Transport Consultative Committee, cost £6,228.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganDoes the Minister consider that four meetings a year are adequate to deal with the number of complaints there are?
§ Mr. BarnesThe statutory number is two, and any three members of the Committee can always convene a special meeting for any purpose which they consider is warranted.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftAre we to assume from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that he agrees with the statement of the hon. Member for Coventry, East (Mr. Crossman), that the Socialist movement has always assumed that no consumers' council would ever work, and was not in the least surprised that it did not?
§ Mr. BarnesI am not conversant with, nor do I very much care about, what any particular hon. Member says —[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]—but I am entitled to emphasise that the consultative machinery under the Transport Act is designed to serve a useful purpose, and, judging by the type of persons who have accepted invitations to serve throughout the country, they take the same view.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanQuite apart from his views on his hon. Friend, has the right hon. Gentleman any concrete evidence that a consultative committee has ever been of any use to the consumer?
§ Mr. BarnesThe comments I might direct elsewhere apply to hon. Members opposite as well.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganWill the Minister consider ordering the Committee to have a monthly meeting, so that these matters can be dealt with more expeditiously?
§ Mr. BarnesNo, Sir.
28. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Transport how many reports he has received from area consultative committees; and which areas.
§ Mr. BarnesThere is no provision in the Transport Act for these committees to report to me. Their recommendations and conclusions are sent to the Central Transport Consultative Committee and to the British Transport Commission.
Miss WardHas the right hon. Gentleman, through that report, had his attention directed to the fact that the Great Northern Hotel is now charging 5s. per head for baths? Does he think that a good advertisement for foreign visitors coming to this country?
§ Mr. BarnesIf any point raised by an area consultative committee is considered important enough, then the Central Transport Consultative Committee record it and pass it on to me.
§ Commander NobleIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it would appear from his answers that the line he seems to take when any complaints are made is that the consumer is always wrong?
§ Mr. BarnesOn the contrary, I nearly always take the view that the consumer is always right.