HC Deb 26 January 1953 vol 510 cc645-7
24 and 25. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Minister of Transport (1) the estimate of the contribution that would be made by outside London passenger traffic towards the central charges of the British Transport Commission when he authorised increases in railway freight charges, as from 1st December, 1952; and by how much that contribution will be increased by the new charges scheme now proposed by the Commission;

(2) the estimate of the total contribution that would be made by London Transport and the railways within the London area to the central charges of the British Transport Commission when he authorised increases in the Commission's railway freight charges, as from 1st December last; and by how much that will be increased by the new charges scheme now proposed by the Commission.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

In authorising the increase of 5 per cent. in freight charges last month, I accepted the advice of the permanent members of the Transport Tribunal acting as a consultative committee. As they observed in their memorandum, which I circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 18th November last, it would have been improper for them to prejudge in any way any issue determinable by them as a Tribunal.

The contribution to be made by the various services towards the central charges of the British Transport Commission is one of the matters for discussion before the Tribunal at the forthcoming hearing, and I cannot anticipate their findings.

Mr. Davies

I regret that the Minister has been unable to give the figures which were asked for, as he was able to give such figures on 23rd June last year. On the basis of those figures would he not agree that, to ask London to make a contribution of £6 million more in increased fares and the rest of the country a contribution of only £500,000, indicates that the lack of balance between London and the outside areas has not only been maintained but worsened in increasing disproportionately the cost of travelling to the people of London?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I was able to give the figures last year because the Tribunal had then reported. After they have reported this year I have no doubt I shall be able to give the House some information as to the justice or otherwise of what the hon. Gentleman said. There was a long interchange in the House on this subject on 14th July last, when I made the Government's position specifically plain in the matter.

Mr. Beswick

Does the Minister mean that he only gets this information from the Tribunal and is not kept up to date direct by the Transport Commission?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The Commission repeatedly made plain to this Government and their predecessors the difficulty of allocating specific contributions from the various undertakings to central charges, but in response to requests from the Tribunal they offered to do their best to furnish them with information. I do not intend, at this stage, to anticipate the findings of the Tribunal.

Mr. Davies

Up to the present London has been able to make a contribution to central charges but outside London receipts have not made any such contribution. Is it not the fact that in 1952 total increases in fares and charges for outside London have been approximately the same as inside London whereas, of course, the quantity of traffic carried outside London is greater? Has not the position therefore worsened for London?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

That is essentially a matter on which the Tribunal can express a view.