§ Major Lyonsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether the agreement that joint working should exist between the Department and the haulage industry still obtains; whether any canvassing has been brought to his notice or is permitted; and whether any instructions have been issued to regional officers to the effect that they should seek other than Government traffic?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe arrangements made with the road haulage industry are still in force. It has always been recognised, both by the Ministry and the industry, that, in order to balance loadings and so to avoid wasteful running, vehicles chartered by the Ministry must carry some commercial traffic. This has hitherto amounted to a very small percentage of the traffic handled under the scheme. The hauliers who carry for the pool are free to obtain traffic without restriction from any sources open to them.
§ Major Lyonsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what is the cost per ton carried, to the last available date, of the administrative expenses of the fleet of load-carrying vehicles chartered by his Department in connection with the road haulage scheme; and how this cost compares with similar expenses of the trade pools?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe approximate cost of the scheme and its apportionment between the two sides of the organisation are in course of ascertainment. Any such comparison as my hon. and gallant Friend desires is, however, complicated by the joint nature of the organisation and the fact that the Government pay the administrative expenses of the Hauliers' National Traffic Pool.