RURAL TRANSPORT (LOCAL AUTHORITIES) (Hansard, 11 April 1962)

§ Mr. Raymond Gower (Barry)

I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to empower certain local authorities to provide omnibus services in rural areas; and for purposes connected therewith My proposed Bill is not an elaborate Measure, but is designed to meet what is widely acknowledged to be a particular need in many parts of the United Kingdom today. I will not detain the House by discussing the causes which have led to the closure of many branch railway lines and to the cessation of many country bus services, but in consequence of these happenings there are certainly some parts of the country today where public transport services are inadequate.

We have had ample evidence of this at Question Time today. Fortunately, increasing numbers of the population are able to provide for their own transport needs—but this very fact exacerbates the problems of those who cannot do so. These include the elderly, housewives and young people, and my Bill, if enacted, would permit district councils to acquire and run public service vehicles, subject to the granting of permission by the appropriate traffic commissioners. It would, of course, prevent these authorities being involved in the costly procedure of promoting Private Bills in this House.

It may be objected that some local authorities have already indicated that they do not wish to run bus services of this kind. If so, the decision would still rest with them. The powers in the Bill are merely permissive. They are not mandatory and the Measure constitutes 1330 no threat to existing services or to established operators. Even where a service has been discontinued by an operator, the council in the area affected would still need the approval of the appropriate traffic commissioners before it could run such a service. In such circumstances it may occur to hon. Members that the consent of the traffic commissioners should be readily granted.

Another argument in opposition which may be raised is that it would seem to anticipate any action which the Government may take to implement some or all of the findings of the Jack Committee. I respectfully submit that the House should not deem this argument as a real ground for opposing my modest Bill. If leave be given to introduce it. and if the Bill is enacted, some far more ambitious schemes could be begun by Parliament and they would not be prejudiced in any way by my Bill.

The Bill would, at least, make possible some immediate steps to deal with what, in many parts, is a serious and pressing need.