HL Deb 28 October 1965 vol 269 cc674-6
THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Lord Hinton of Bankside has yet completed his fully integrated transport survey for the Government, and if so whether, in view of the widespread interest in this question, the survey will be published.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD LINDGREN)

My Lords, Lord Hinton of Bankside has reported to my right honourable friend on the matters which he was asked to consider. My right honourable friend has always made it plain that as Lord Hinton of Bankside had been appointed as a temporary civil servant, his advice would not be made public.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, whilst thanking the noble Lord for his reply, may I ask whether he is aware that in view of the emphasis put, both before and after the Election, on this report as to the transport survey and plans of the Government, this answer is extremely disappointing?

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, the evolution of a properly co-ordinated system of transport must be based upon a programme of research, and the noble Lord, Lord Hinton of Bankside, undertook part of that research on behalf of my right honourable friend, on a series of subjects delegated to him by my right honourable friend.

LORD REA

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether some form of White Paper based on Lord Hinton of Bank-side's report is going to be published?

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, not on the views of the noble Lord, Lord Hinton of Bankside—but a series of committees are at work. My right honourable friend has already promised that by the end of the year he will issue a White Paper on the future of transport. The conclusions drawn from Lord Hinton of Bankside's advice and from the advice of other civil servants will be included in that White Paper.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, may I also ask whether the noble Lord is aware that there are a great number of organisations which are keenly disappointed in not having been called by Lord Hinton of Bankside and wonder very much about the foundation of this report to the Government?

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, this matter is very difficult. I am certain that the noble Earl has been associated with research in a number of fields and he will know that when persons are appointed to go into a field of research one cannot dictate the number of persons whose advice they are to consider, whose advice they are going to accept and whose advice they are going to reject. It is entirely a matter for the research officer whom the Minister appoints.

LORD BOOTHBY

My Lords, will the noble Lord take courage from the fact that nearly all Parliamentary Answers are extremely disappointing?

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, I thought, in my innocence, that courage was a beer.