HC Deb 05 April 1978 vol 947 c417
6. Mr. Spriggs

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the report of the committee of inquiry into operators' licensing.

Mr. Horam

I understand that the committee hopes to present its report by late summer.

Mr. Spriggs

Bearing in mind the Foster Committee's obligation to work within the Government's policy of fair competition in the freight market, will my hon. Friend take other steps to assist fair competition? In particular, will he bring forward the recommendations for vehicle taxation at an early date so that we shall see the railway freight deficit disappear at the same time?

Mr. Horam

I understand my hon. Friend's concern that there should be fair competition between road and rail, and we are doing all that we can to ensure that. However, the precise timing of any changes in vehicle excise duty on lorries, for example, is partly a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer as well as for my right hon. Friend. We will have to wait and see whether, in successive Budgets, anything is done about that.