HC Deb 28 March 1979 vol 965 cc449-50
12. Sir John Langford-Holt

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend public ownership in the road haulage industry.

Mr. Rodgers

Probably none, in this Session of Parliament.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

Given that it remains the right hon. Gentleman's policy to bring the transport industry into public ownership, can he give the House any idea of one or perhaps two advantages that would be gained from it?

Mr. Rodgers

I could give a long list, if the hon. Gentleman was willing to listen. Two would be enough. We are discussing specifically the road haulage industry. I put the matter this way. The National Freight Corporation has, in many ways, been an important pace-setter in an industry that is pretty rough at the edges. I should like to see the National Freight Corporation given every facility to extend its operations to show that road haulage can be industrially efficient, with high standards of social behaviour and good industrial relations.

Mr. Fry

Does the Secretary of State appreciate that the National Frieght Corporation had the aid of taxpayers' money, which is not available to private industry, in what it has achieved? Will he enlighten the House by saying how he reconciles his many previous denials in this House about plans for further nationalisation with the current Labour campaign guide which specifically promises an extension of the public sector of road haulage?

Mr. Rodgers

I am not aware that I have ever denied the possibility of more public ownership. I am far too careful to say that. I have made plain in the House, time and again, that freight must pay its way. This applies to the National Freight Corporation which deserves the fullest support on both sides of the House.

Mr. Ioan Evans

Will my right hon. Friend avoid the dogmatic approach of the Conservative Party, which denationalised the road haulage industry at a time when road and rail were paying? He should move forward to an integrated road and rail service, with traffic on the railways that is best carried by rail and that on the roads that is best suited to the roads.

Mr. Rodgers

I agree absolutely with my hon. Friend. He is right to say that we have to look for proper co-ordination of all our freight services. He is also right to say that we need a mixed economy in road haulage. In my view, we need a rather larger public sector too.