Mr. G. Wilsonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the significance to the national economy of passenger transport charges and the effect of recent wage increases granted to transport workers in London, what general direction he proposes to give to the British Transport Commission regarding the fares to be charged in the London area.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo direction is necessary. The Chairman of the British Transport Commission told me on 2nd May that there is not at present scope for 67W obtaining a large increase in receipts by raising fares. The Commission intend to find the bulk of the cost of current wage increases in London, as on British Railways, from economies in working expenses. They do not propose to make any fare increases in London in the near future except, as has already been announced, by raising some scattered sub-standard fares.
The intention of the Commission to make limited increases on certain passenger fares (of which I told my noble Friend the Member for Dorset, South (Viscount Hinchingbrooke) in answer to a Question on 21st May) also applies to London, where specially heavy costs arise in providing services for peak traffic. The Commission at present have no authority to raise fares as their present powers are exhausted. In order that the Commission may have headroom in charging powers to make any future adjustments, they intend to apply to the Transport Tribunal for the necessary authority later in the year.