HC Deb 22 July 1965 vol 716 cc1818-9
19. Mr. McBride

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will refer all increases in public service bus fares to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

29. Mr. Godman Irvine

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will now accede to the request received from the Town Clerk of Bexhill to refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the fare increases recently granted by the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners to Maidstone and District Motor Services.

Mr. George Brown

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and I are watching the position closely, but we believe that the statutory procedures for regulating provincial bus fares laid down under the Road Traffic Acts are sufficient to ensure that the national interest is taken fully into account. I do not think therefore that reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes at this stage would be appropriate.

Mr. McBride

Is not my right hon. Friend aware of the strenuous opposition offered to increases as recently as the 11th of this month by 40 local authorities in South Wales, including the county borough of Swansea? Would he not agree that in many cases these increases in fares cushion inefficiency on the part of many private operators? Does he not think it would be wise to reconsider his decision?

Mr. Brown

The only decision I am asked for here is whether I will refer the increases to the National Board. At the moment neither my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport nor I think that is necessary. The Commissioners exist and have their powers, and indeed in the case of the East Midlands quite recently they actually refused applications. So long as they have these powers and use them in this way, it would seem wrong to require a double reference for the same purpose.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Alternatively, would the Minister take into special account the needs of old persons, for whom buses are an essential of life and upon whom the increased fares bear unduly heavily?

Mr. Brown

That seems to be another question, but I agree that there is great point in what my hon. and learned Friend says, but I believe that ways are being found to meet it.