HC Deb 16 March 1955 vol 538 cc1298-300
50. Mr. D. Jones

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that British Road Services are now having to abandon many of their cross-country haulage services, in order to make available vehicles to be disposed of by sale; that no alternative services are being provided by private hauliers, and that the absence of services is causing apprehension to individual businessmen and to associations of businessmen; and if he will now repeal the Transport Act, 1953, to avoid ending these services.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir." The answer to the second, third and fourth parts is "No, Sir."

Mr. Jones

Is it not the case that the right hon. Gentleman recently received a deputation from the A.B.C.C., led by an eminent gentleman who has recently been appointed to an important position in another section of the transport industry, which voiced to him the apprehensions of commerce based on the possibility, indeed the probability, in the very near future of numbers of trunking services being withdrawn in order to make vehicles available for disposal?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have the advantage of a great deal of advice from a wide variety of directions.

Mr. Renton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, before denationalisation, we frequently had complaints about the inefficiency of British road services, but that we are now not getting anything like the same number of complaints in regard to those B.R.S. services still operating or with regard to those services which have been taken over by private hauliers?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I think that the road transport system of this country is running none too badly.

Mr. Callaghan

The Minister says he is not aware of any apprehension about the breakdown of trunk services, but would he say what representations have been made to him by chambers of commerce or any other body on this subject? Is he telling us he has had none?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I should prefer not to answer without notice about views which other people have put to me. As I said, I receive them from a great many people and I should not like to misrepresent any of them. If the hon. Gentleman wishes for precise information on that,it would be much better if a Question were put on the Order Paper.

Mr. Callaghan

I am sorry to pursue this matter, but is not that the Question which my hon. Friend has asked? Does not the third part, about which the Minister gave a "brush off" to my hon. Friend, ask about the apprehensions being felt by individual businessmen and associations of businessmen? Should the right hon. Gentleman not be prepared to answer it now? What representations has he received from chambers of commerce or other bodies?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The hon. Gentleman has not quoted his hon. Friend's Question completely. It refers to "absence of services"and I have had no communication about any absence of services.

Mr. Jones

Does the right hon. Gentleman dissent from the view that the deputation of the A.B.C.C. told him quite definitely that they were apprehensive about the effect if services should be withdrawn in the near future, and does he deny the fact that the deputation was led by a very eminent gentleman from the North-East, who occupies the position of Chairman of the North-East Railway Board?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

If a Question is put on the Order Paper about a particular deputation I will endeavour to answer it, but the hon. Gentleman's own Question does not refer to apprehensions in the future but to the absence of services in the present.