§ Sir A. Maitlandasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what progress has been made with the road haulage scheme; and whether he can state the annual cost?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerTwo hundred and seventy-six haulage undertakings are now controlled by agreement; 268 road haulage units are in operation. Applications by carriers to have their vehicles hired are now being received and hiring will shortly begin. It will not be possible to give the annual cost of the organisation until it has been in operation for a year. Apart from the amounts payable to the controlled undertakings under their agreements,which are in course of ascertainment, and the standing charges payable in respect of the hired vehicles, the numbers and carrying capacity of which are not yet known, an important part of the total cost will depend upon the operating expenses, which in turn will depend upon the mileage run.