§ 46. Lieut.-Colonel Marcus Liptonasked the Prime Minister what other Ministers, in addition to the Minister of Transport, will be deputed to discuss with the British Transport Commission the carrying out of the policy set out in the White Paper on Transport Policies.
§ The Prime MinisterConsultation with the British Transport Commission is naturally within the province of the Secretary of State for the Co-ordination of Transport, Fuel and Power, as well as being part of the duties of the Minister of Transport.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs it reasonable to expect even the Minister for the Co ordination of Transport and the Minister of Transport combined to make any sense of this chaotic hotch-potch of a White Paper in the course of their discussions with the Transport Commission?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. and gallant Gentleman seems in his supplementary question to be prejudging matters which have yet to come before the House.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesSince neither of the Ministers concerned consulted the Transport Commission before these proposals were incorporated in the White Paper, and since the proposals have not, as the Prime Minister says, been adopted by the House, will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that no commitments will be entered into until the proposals have received the consent of the House?
§ The Prime MinisterI am certainly not going to give any assurance of that kind.