HC Deb 25 January 1967 vol 739 cc1486-8
26. Mr. Peter Walker

asked the Minister of Transport what progress she has made in agreeing the details of a national freight authority with those concerned.

Mrs. Castle

My plans for the national freight organisation are being drawn up in close consultation with the Railways Board and the Transport Holding Company. I have also discussed them with the T.U.C.; and I am about to do so with the transport unions, the Road Haulage Association and the Transport Users' Joint Committee.

Mr. Walker

It is now six months since the publication of the White Paper, and the House of Commons has had no opportunity to debate the White Paper or the proposals concerned. Does the right hon. Lady realise that the uncertainty is causing unrest in the road haulage business and on the railways? Will she undertake that it will not be another six months before we know the details?

Mrs. Castle

I cannot accept that there is uncertainty and unrest. What is happening is the normal procedure following the publication of a White Paper and preceding the introduction of very detailed legislation. The hon. Gentleman would be the first to complain if I did not consult and study very carefully. This is what I am doing, and our programme is on time in preparation for the legislation.

Mr. Walker

Is the right hon. Lady aware that all the latest statistics show, for example, a considerable down-turn in investment in new vehicles in the road haulage business, and the railways are uncertain of their future, too? Will it take another six months? Cannot the right hon. Lady give some indication?

Mrs. Castle

I do not for a moment accept that the trend of investment in the road haulage business has been influenced by my White Paper. As I told the hon. Gentleman, I am to meet the Road Haulage Association very shortly—in fact, on 8th February—when it will have a full opportunity to discuss the details with me.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

Will my right hon. Friend agree that the best method may be to integrate British Rail and British Road Services completely, as they were so successfully integrated before, although improvements might be made even on that integration?

Mrs. Castle

It is my policy to have the integration of road and rail on both the freight and the passenger side, but, as I explained in the White Paper, I believe that we need a different structure of integration for passenger transport, that is, through the transportation authorities in the localities, from what we need for freight, for which my national freight organisation will provide a national solution.

Mr. Strauss

I appreciate that it must take quite a time to work out the details for such an important structural change, but can my right hon. Friend say when she hopes to be able to come to the House with the necessary legislation? What is her target for such legislation?

Mrs. Castle

My target is the earliest possible place I can get in the legislative programme, and that is at the beginning of next Session. That is my target, and we are on target in preparation for it. I shall later this year publish a White Paper indicating and explaining the details of the legislation.

Mr. Galbraith

The right hon. Lady refers to integration. I have asked her this question before. What does she mean by integration? Does it mean unification or does it mean amalgamation?

Mrs. Castle

It means the kind of thing we are already launching between British Rail parcels and sundries and B.R.S. parcels, in other words, merging of depôts, a unified planning of cartage and schedules, and general rationalisation and economies.