HC Deb 26 May 1954 vol 528 cc387-8
11. Mr. Gibson

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the estimated cost per mile of buses run on diesel engines; what is the cost per mile of running trolley buses; and what is the cost per passenger mile in both cases.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am advised that it is impossible to make worth-while estimates except in relation to specific conditions.

Mr. Gibson

Is the Minister aware that other people who are interested in this problem have made estimates which tend to show that buses powered by diesel engines will cost more per mile to run?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

That is certainly not the view of London Transport Executive. I have pointed out the difficulty of providing a worth-while figure because the cost of equipping a trolley bus route varies between £4,000 and £12,000 per mile according to the nature of the route. That is why I was hesitant about giving a figure. The justification for this change depends upon considerations other than cost.

Mr. Nabarro

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the public health aspect of this matter, notably the pollution of the atmosphere? Before a final decision is made, is it not possible to refer the whole problem to the Beaver Committee which is at present investigating pollution problems?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

There is a Question on the Order Paper on that subject.

Mr. Beswick

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a good deal of interest in this matter apart from the public health aspect? There is the question of importation of fuel which one would have thought a good thing to avoid as far as possible. Would he see that the relevant data is made available to the public?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I will look into the question of making the data available. I am satisfied that the Commission and the London Transport Executive have gone exhaustively into this matter and that it will be a worth-while contribution to the speeding up of traffic on our crowded streets.

Mr. Ernest Davies

Is there any more pollution from diesel oil engines than there is from the consumption of coal which produces the electricity on which trolley buses run?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am told that the amount of benzypyrene generated through diesel oil exhausts is no greater than from petrol exhausts and under ideal conditions, might be considerably less.