Government Policy (Transport Bill)

HC Deb 12 May 1952 vol 500 cc79-80W

69. Mr. Baker

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement as to the general directions he will give in order to suspend the powers at present available for the closing down of efficient road services, at the instigation of the transport authority, to cover the interim period until the new Transport Bill is introduced.

72. Sir R. Cary

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the present precipitate orders for the dispersal of old-established undertakings and loyal employees in the North-West Division without any indication of future prospects or security to the persons employed, will obstruct the possible transfer of undertakings, either to private enterprise or a more appropriate executive of the British Transport Commission with whose organisation the undertakings concerned could be more conveniently integrated; and, in view of declared Government policy that road haulage should revert to private enterprise, if he will order a standstill to delay the Road Haulage Executive's efforts to disperse the units and personnel of compulsorily-acquired haulage undertakings.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Now that the Government have announced their intended policy for transport, I propose to take an early opportunity of consulting with the British, Transport Commission as to the conduct of their undertaking in the interim period.

70. Mr. Baker

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement as to the general directions he will issue to stop closing down all local railways until he has brought the transport authority under the control of Parliament by a new Transport Bill.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I have no direction of this character in mind.

73. Mr. Shackleton

asked the Minister of Transport what consultation he had with the Transport Commission before the publication of the Government's proposals contained in Command Paper, No. 8538.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The British Transport Commission were appointed to carry out the duties assigned to them by the Transport Act, 1947, and it is not part of their statutory functions to advise the Government on future transport policy. The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Commission were informed in confidence of the Government's intentions immediately before the publication of the White Paper, and the Commission and its Executives will, of course, be asked to advise about those practical issues arising out of the Government's policy in which they are concerned.