§ 5. Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will now give his revised estimate of the anticipated loss on disposal of road haulage vehicles and the date of termination of the transport levy.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 2nd November.
§ Mr. DaviesWhen will the Minister be in a position to make a statement on the revised estimate of the losses made on the sale of road haulage vehicles in view of the fact that the Government have been forced to change their policy in this respect? Are not the House and the country entitled to know the cost of the wrecking transport policy of the Government?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think that the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary indicates how far he is from the realities of the position.
§ Mr. DaviesDoes the Minister mean to say that there is no loss as a consequence of this? Is it not a fact that the Government's policy has resulted in a loss which, at one time, the right hon. Gentleman estimated to be £21 million, and that, in view of the change of policy, it will not be as much as that, and could be even less if the Government stopped further sales?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not see how that arises out of a Question asking when I am going to make a statement on the levy?
§ Mr. G. R. StraussWhy is the Minister so reluctant to give the House his present estimate of the loss that will fall upon the community as a result of the revision of this policy? Surely, it is only a matter of calculation? Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman give it to the House?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI really do not accept the right hon. Gentleman's imputation about losses on the community. A statement will be made on the levy—which was approved by Parliament some years ago—at an appropriate time.