HC Deb 22 February 1966 vol 725 cc68-9W
Mr. Pounder

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which ships of Her Majesty's Home Fleet will be visiting Northern Ireland ports during 1966; what will be the length of their stay; and at which ports they will be calling.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

I cannot yet give the names of Her Majesty's ships likely to pay visits later in the summer; but the following visits are already being planned for the earlier months:

and handling arrangements in distribution to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. The Board is expected to record progress on this subject in its final Report on the road haulage reference. The Economic Development Committee is also taking steps to give publicity to its views.

Mr. Howe

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) to what extent the National Board for Prices and Incomes has further investigated the matter, mentioned in paragraph 53 of their first Report, of costs in the road haulage industry; and what have been the results of such inquiry;

(2) what have been the results of the talks which the National Board for Prices and Incomes intended to continue with the parties concerned about the situation referred to in paragraph 50 of the Board's first report; and what progress has so far been made in overcoming this situation;

(3) what estimate he has made of the average increase in road haulage rates since 23rd June, 1965;

(4) when the National Board for Prices and Incomes' Second Report on road haulage rates will be produced and published.

Mr. William Rodgers

I would ask the hon. and learned Member to await the Final Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on Road Haulage which will be published in the near future.

Mr. Howe

asked the First Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what estimate he has made of the increase in average weekly earnings in the road haulage industry that will accrue from the proposals of which the Road Haulage Wages Council gave notice on 3rd February, 1966; to what extent this increase is in accord with Her Majesty's Government's policy for prices and incomes, and with the recommendations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes in its first Report; and whether such increases will be referred to the National Board for consideration and report.

Mr. William Rodgers

If actual working hours remain unchanged it is estimated that the Road Haulage Wages Council proposals will increase earnings in the road haulage industry by about 7 per cent. An increase of this size could only be justified under the criteria laid down in the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Policy (Cmnd. 2639) if the industry, through its newly formed Productivity Committee, can effect worthwhile improvements in efficiency.

These are all matters that we would expect to be dealt with in the National Board's Final Report on this industry.