HC Deb 28 March 1956 vol 550 cc2142-4
19. Mr. G. R. Strauss

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the extent of the savings he anticipates will be achieved by greater efficiency in the running of the railways during the next six months.

Mr. Watkinson

As the right hon. Member will realise, any estimate of savings limited to six months, even if it could be made, would have little relevance to the point to which attention will be directed when the time comes. That, as I said in my statement on 19th March, is the financial prospect over the next few years.

Mr. Strauss

Yes, but as the Minister, in his statement last week, based his plea for postponement on the economy measures which he anticipated would be put into operation in the next six months, surely he must have some idea of what they will be; otherwise he has no justification for interfering and reducing the income to the Commission from the £37 million which it desires to £20 million?

Mr. Watkinson

One of the main things which has already been put in hand is an objective review of the whole future of the Commission's financial and economic situation, which will take some time to carry through. There are a great many other points of detail which will be examined, such as modernisation, freight charges, productivity and regional structure, and in my view all these things mean that there is a need for a breathing space for the Commission of six months in order that the plans may be pressed forward.

Mr. Strauss

But in view of the drastic nature of the right hon. Gentleman's interference, is it not really unrealistic and dangerous for him to base his important change of policy on the expectation of some magical occurrence during the next six months?

Mr. Watkinson

If the right hon. Gentleman calls my interference drastic, I would reply that there is a drastic need to stop the continual passing of costs on to industry and the public.

Mr. E. Johnson

May I ask whether my right hon. Friend anticipates that among the advantages of greater efficiency would be included greater punctuality?

Mr. Watkinson

To be fair, I should say that trains are already running with greater punctuality. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] If hon. Members will draw my attention to those which are not—as they fairly frequently do—I will endeavour to have their complaints looked into by the Transport Commission.