HC Deb 27 October 1952 vol 505 cc1552-3
26. Mr. Callaghan

asked the Minister of Transport which of the road haulage depots he has visited does not provide traders with a speedy individual and specialised service; and for what reasons.

29. Mr. Sparks

asked the Minister of Transport if he will indicate which depots of British Road Services he has visited since taking up office; and what were the standards of working and operation he discovered in them.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I have visited various depots since taking up office and these visits have confirmed my previous impression that all ranks in the Road Haulage Executive are doing all they can to discharge their responsibilities within the framework of the Transport Act, 1947, and to provide trade and industry with satisfactory services.

Whether better services could not be provided by private enterprise rather than by a centrally controlled organisation is quite another matter.

Mr. Callaghan

Does the Minister recognise that the words "speedy individual and specialised service" are those used in the White Paper as being inapplicable to the Road Haulage Executive, and that they were not able to provide those services for trade and industry? May I take it that the answer to my Question is that he has not found a single illustration of where a depot was unable to provide a speedy, individual and specialised service?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Much of the information on which I relied comes from the volume of correspondence that was received by the late Administration, but I have information from many other sources on which to make up my mind.

Mr. Callaghan

Does not the Minister recognise that a great many of these complaints, when investigated, are found to have another side to them and will he not look at the folly which he proposes to introduce again to the House and do away with it?