§ 2.35 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have a statement to make on railway fares.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE CO-ORDINATION OF TRANSPORT, FUEL AND POWER (LORD LEATHERS)My Lords, I should like to make a statement about railway fares similar to that made by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister in another place yesterday. The need for fare increases has arisen from advances in working costs incurred mainly during the administration of the previous Government. The increases were authorised by the Transport Tribunal as prescribed in the Transport Act, 1947, after they had received from the British Transport Commission a draft Passenger Charges scheme and held a public inquiry. The scheme, with modifications, was confirmed by the Tribunal on February 27, and, by order of the Tribunal, came into force in London four days later on March 2. Until the scheme came into operation, it was not possible to measure the full effects of the use which the British Transport Commission had made of its discretionary powers under the scheme.
My honourable friend the Minister of Transport did, however, on March 11, refer to the Central Transport Consultative Committee alterations in London of fare stages and fares in relation to them. The Committee have submitted their report; they accept the need for these increases and make no complaint of the manner in which the Transport Commission has exercised its discretionary powers. But, for reasons which will appear from what I have to say later, the Government are themselves considering 246 whether any action should be taken in respect of the disproportionate increases in sub-standard fares in London.
Outside London the scheme does not come into force until May 1. The Government were, therefore, able to inform themselves more precisely of the effect of these proposed increases, and as a result they decided that some further delay must be imposed in order that these proposals could be more fully considered in relation to the general scheme of transport reform which they have in hand. They were particularly concerned at certain exceptionally severe changes in the cost of workmen's tickets and season tickets; and they also considered that some of the proposed changes in concession fares ought not to be imposed upon the public without Parliamentary discussion.
For instance, an increase of 40 per cent. was to be made in the following cases of concession fares: anglers, commercial travellers, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Mercantile Marine going on leave, children at training schools and ships, shipwrecked mariners, entertainers and music hall artistes, agricultural workers (return fare), visitors to children at approved schools, and poor children on holiday sponsored by voluntary bodies. These examples are not of major financial consequence, but they raise issues which in our opinion should not he settled without the attention of the Government of the day and of Parliament, to which the Government is responsible.
As a result of our consideration of all these matters, the Minister of Transport felt it his duty on April 15 to give a direction to the British Transport Commission, as a result of which the increases which the Commission proposed to make under the scheme have been suspended, though certain reductions required by the scheme will come into force on May 1. The Minister proposes to seek the views of the Consultative Committee on the question of railway fares outside London, and naturally before reaching a full and final decision he must await their report.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, in view of the statement made by the Prime Minister in another place that a White Paper upon the Government's transport policy will be published at an 247 early date, I should like to ask the noble Viscount the Deputy Leader of the House whether he can give the House an assurance that a debate upon this matter will be arranged as soon as possible, through the usual channels.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (VISCOUNT SWINTON)My Lords, I will gladly give that undertaking. Perhaps we might arrange, through the usual channels, how long the Opposition would like to study the White Paper before we hold a debate.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Viscount for what he has said.