§ 54. Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of transport units sold to date; the number of vehicles contained therein; and the number of companies sold, with the number of vehicles transferred to them.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterUp to 31st January, 12,716 vehicles have been disposed of: 12,314 in 4,271 units and 402 in three companies.
§ Mr. DaviesDoes the Minister recall that in an earlier reply this afternoon he said that advantages were being gained for the transport system from the selling-off of these vehicles? Does he really believe that there can be any gain to the transport industry if these vehicles are being sold off in the small lots which his 1091 figures show, namely, that there is an average of only three vehicles per unit? Is he aware that the disintegration of the transport system in such a way, if it continues, will make it impossible to continue the comprehensive trunk services and other routes which are now being operated?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThere is a great advantage in the flexibility which results from the return to this industry of a large number of small operators.
§ Mr. CallaghanWould not the Minister achieve the same flexibility, now that the 25-mile limit has been repealed, by allowing British Road Services to retain their vehicles and run in competition with private road hauliers throughout the length and breadth of the country? What are the private road hauliers afraid of?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIt is not a question of what the private road hauliers are afraid of. Parliament, after long debate—
§ Mr. CallaghanAnd the Guillotine.
§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter—decided in favour of these proposals, and I am carrying out the provisions of the Act.