§ Mr. PopplewellI desire to present a humble petition addressed to the honourable House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.
The petition is signed by the vast majority of members of the Transport and General Workers' Union, employees of the Road Haulage Executive on Tyneside and Tees-side, who are anxious about the outcome of the proposals contained in the Government White Paper and Bill to de-nationalise road transport, and who believe that this is a retrograde step which will create a worsening of conditions of employment.
Furthermore, it will mean a return to private profit of that which has proved to be a national asset, and will result in chaos within the industry.
Wherefore your petitioners pray that these proposals be withdrawn and measures taken to improve the existing transport services by co-ordination of all forms of inland transport, in order to provide an efficient and economic system of transport, which is the purpose of the Transport Act, 1947, to the well-being of the community, and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever humbly pray.To lie upon the Table.