HC Deb 08 March 1961 vol 636 cc453-4
26. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the need for co-ordination between Great Britain's shipping coasting trade and Great Britain's internal transport system; and what are his plans for achieving such co-ordination.

Mr. Marples

This matter is bound up with the current examination, referred to in paragraph 60 of the White Paper "Reorganisation of the Nationalised Transport Undertakings" (Cmnd. 1248), of the statutory provisions for the protection and co-ordination of coastal shipping with inland transport.

Mr. Hughes

Does the Minister realise that, owing to the diverse nature of the merchandise carried in this country, there is a conflict between the different transport services which could be resolved by a little intelligent planning? Will he take advice about intelligent planning so that these difficulties can be resolved?

Mr. Marples

I am always receiving advice on intelligent planning of transport from many quarters. If the hon. and learned Gentleman has any views about coastal shipping and would care to put them forward, I shall be glad to receive them.

Mr. Strauss

Is the Minister aware that this problem has been before his Ministry in one form or another for many years past? What assurance can he give that we shall have some final decision by the Ministry on this very important matter before very long?

Mr. Marples

The Council of Shipping, in its recommendations made quite recently, on which it spent 18 months, mentioned this problem of coastal shipping. I promised that I would look at them, as they asked me, in effect, to impose restrictions on road and rail so that coastal shipping could take a certain amount of traffic at appropriate rates. I promised to look at it, and I will do so.

Mr. Strauss

The question I asked was whether there is likely to be some expression of opinion from the Ministry before very long. This matter has been before the Ministry for many years. It is not a recent report of the Chamber of Shipping. Is there not to be some decision or expression of opinion on this matter?

Mr. Marples

So far as the Council of Shipping is concerned and its recommendations, I propose to deal with every one of them in due course.

Mr. Shinwell

Has the right hon. Gentleman sufficient time for all these very intricate matters? Does he not think it would be better to hand this over to somebody else with more time?

Mr. Marples

I do not think so. The right hon. Gentleman's supplementaries are always so short and infrequent that I have plenty of time to consider them.