HC Deb 14 November 1956 vol 560 cc932-4
19. Mr. Awbery

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what quantity of oil was imported into Great Britain in 1955 in ships flying flags of convenience such as those of Panama, Liberia and Costa Rica.

Mr. Watkinson

It is estimated that the quantity of petroleum oils imported into Great Britain in 1955 in ships flying the flags of Panama, Liberia, Costa Rica and Honduras was about 7 million tons.

Mr. Awbery

Is the Minister aware that by giving work of this character to people who fly flags of convenience we are encouraging them to avoid their obligations under the Charter of I.L.O.? Will he take steps to see either that these people carry out their obligations or that the work is done by those who do carry out their obligations?

Mr. Watkinson

There are two considerations. One is that this tonnage is quite a small proportion of the total imports. The second and more important, with which, I think, the hon. Gentleman will agree, is that it is not in our widest commercial interest, as a large shipowning country, to interfere with the rights of shipowners to charter where they like.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it would be to the greatest interest of this country to make use of every possible tanker at the present time?

23. Mr. C. Howell

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consultations have taken place with the British Transport Commission in connection with the necessity to conserve oil and petrol; and the result of such consultations.

Mr. Watkinson

I am in close touch with the Commission, which has taken steps to reduce consumption both by its road haulage companies and, so far as possible, by the London Transport Executive and its provincial and Scottish bus undertakings.

Mr. Howell

The Minister said he has been in "close touch". Will he inform the House whether he has had any recommendations from the British Transport Commission?

Mr. Watkinson

I have had something rather better than that. The Commission has shown concrete progress by taking 1,500 lorries off the roads.

Mr. G. R. Strauss

Will there be any parallel reduction in the number of vehicles under the control of private carriers? If not, what is obviously likely to happen is that some of the loads, instead of being carried by British Road Services, will go to the private hauliers, so that there will be no reduction in the amount of petrol consumed.

Mr. Watkinson

This action by British Road Services is action taken on its own commercial judgment. I have been informed by all road interests that they will loyally try to carry out the request made to them, and I have no reason to doubt that they will.

Mr. Strauss

Could not the Minister go further than that? If, as he says, there is to be a 10 per cent. reduction on the part of British Road Services, surely he ought to make an appeal or, if necessary, an order—at any rate, take some steps to ensure—that private road hauliers make a similar reduction? Surely that is in the national interest and is only fair?

Mr. Watkinson

I have told the hon. Member for Perry Barr (Mr. C. Howell) and the right hon. Gentleman that I have been in touch with all the road interests concerned and that they have all informed me that they intend to carry out and implement to the full this 10 per cent. cut. How they do it is a matter for their commercial judgment, and not mine.

Mr. McLeavy

In addition to consulting both the British Transport Commission and the private sector of the industry, will the Minister ensure the closest possible consultation with the trade unions concerned, in order to ensure that the interests of the men affected will at least be reasonably protected?

Mr. Watkinson

Yes, I quite agree; and it is certainly my wish that that, so far as I can control it, should be done.