§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (LORD MOYNE)My Lords, this Bill is necessary to enable the Government to settle agreements with the four major groups of railways and with the London Passenger Transport Board. Control was assumed on the outbreak of war and has involved far-reaching agreements between the Government and the companies and between the four amalgamated companies and the London Passenger Transport Board. Command Paper No. 6168, which was presented last February, gave a broad outline of the system which was in operation under the Railway Control Order of 1939. It provided, among other matters, for the pooling of receipts and for the sharing of the pool between the companies and the London Passenger Transport Board up to the total of their guaranteed revenues. Beyond that figure the first slice of the balance would be shared fifty-fifty with the Exchequer and if the pool exceeded the estimated standard revenue under the Railways Act, 1921, the whole surplus would accrue to the Exchequer. These matters would probably have been brought before the House in a Bill defining all the details, but modifications in the arrangement with the parties concerned, due to the introduction of the War Damages Bill, make it impossible to make provision at this stage by Act of Parliament for all the details which will require legislative sanction.
116 This Bill therefore proceeds by authorising the Minister of Transport by Order to confer the necessary powers on the companies concerned to make agreements, and Clause 1 (4) provides that every Order so made shall be laid before Parliament with power to either House to annul it within forty days. I beg to more.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a—(Lord Moyne.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a: Committee negatived.