§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the index number of British tramp shipping freights has reached the lowest level since postwar calculations began in 1948, and that the railways are not paying in either freight or passengers and that British roads are overcrowded; and if he will state his plans to co-ordinate these three transport services with a view to improvements in transport, employment and amenity.
§ Mr. MarplesThe Tramp Shipping freight index relates only to deep-sea shipping, and is not, therefore, relevant to matters affecting the co-ordination of inland transport. It is not possible to deal adequately with this general subject at Question Time; but my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has sent the194W hon. and learned Member a copy of a speech to the Institute of Transport in which I explained broadly what we are doing to achieve co-ordination in inland transport, where this is necessary, in such a way as to meet the reasonable needs of consumers on a competitive basis and without extravagant use of the national resources.