§ 56. Mr. Callaghanasked the Minister of Transport how many visits the Secretary of State for the Co-ordination of Transport, Fuel and Power has paid to the headquarters of the Road Haulage Executive or to its outlying depots, in the course of the investigations made by him prior to the introduction of the Transport Bill.
§ The Minister of Transport (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd)None, Sir. My noble friend never had any doubt that within the framework imposed upon them by the misguided policy of the Transport Act the Road Haulage Executive, and the Commission as a whole, were working with the greatest zeal and energy.
§ Mr. CallaghanDoes that mean, then, that neither Lord Leathers, nor the Minister, nor his immediate predecessor has paid any visit to the Road Haulage Executive or any of their depots at any time; and if so, why not?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe hon. Gentleman must assume no such thing.
§ Mr. CallaghanBut is it true?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI have here dealt with a Question directed towards my noble Friend and to him alone. As for myself, as soon as I am released from Parliamentary obligations I intend to travel round a good deal.
§ Mr. D. JonesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the view in the answer he gave to the Question is not shared by any of the experts in the industry, except by himself and his friends who have only seen this thing through the windows of their own motor cars?
§ Mr. CallaghanDoes the right hon. Gentleman know that his allegations that the Road Haulage Executive are not able to provide an efficient service are repudiated emphatically by the staff of the Road Haulage Executive; and when he goes to see them will he take very good care that he talks to the staff and finds out what the facts of the situation are?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am quite prepared to rely on my own talks with the people concerned and not on the hon. Gentleman's impression of what he thinks they are likely to be.
§ Sir H. WilliamsWill my right hon. Friend also talk to some of the customers of this inefficient service?