HL Deb 25 May 1966 vol 274 cc1369-70

2.44 p.m.

LORD WILLIS

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 it is still their intention to introduce legislation to extend the manufacturing powers of the nationalised transport undertakings.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD CHAMPION)

Yes, my Lords: in due course.

LORD WILLIS

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that full and complete reply. In view of the statement that he has just made, may I further ask him what were the conditions which were applied when the agreement was made that the Aldenham works of the London Transport Board should be handed over, in part, to a private contractor? Does not this agreement rather go against what my noble friend has just said, since it would effectively prevent the use of these works by London Transport for the manufacture of their own bus bodies?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, the partial closure of the depot is a matter for the London Transport Board, but my right honourable friend has examined most carefully with the Chairman of the Board the future of the Aldenham workshop. Reductions in the size of the London Transport Board's vehicle fleet over the years, coupled with the reorganisation of the maintenance work undertaken by that workshop, has enabled the Board to vacate about one-third of the workshop area, and they are proposing to lease this part, rather than allow it to lie idle. My right honourable friend has concluded that the Board are justified in this decision.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, in considering this matter will the Government have regard to the continuing and overriding need to maintain and increase exports?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, the Government always have that in mind in regard to the position of the country.

LORD LINGDREN

My Lords, will the Government at the same time bear in mind that there is an essential need for a check on the monopoly production of the essential parts for a transport undertaking?

LORD CHAMPION

This also, my Lords, the Government will keep in mind.

LORD WILLIS

May I further ask my noble friend whether, when it was decided that one-third of the space at Alden-ham could be handed over, appropriate consultation was made with the appropriate trade unions, as well as with the Board?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, I could not answer that question at the moment, but of course the unions have been in touch with my right honourable friend on the whole question of using capacity in the various workshops for the purposes which clearly my noble friend has in mind.