§ Mr. Ogdenasked the Minister of Transport what further interim action she proposes to take to hasten the rationalisation of parcels and sundries services in the public sector.
§ Mrs. CastleTo permit greater efficiency and economy in their freight sundries service, and improved utilisation of their cartage fleet, I have given my consent under Section 4(2) of the Transport Act, 1962, to the request by the Railways Board that they should be permitted to carry parcels and sundries traffic throughout its journey by road. This is an important step towards the rationalisation of the nationalised road and rail freight services in preparation for the setting up of the national freight organisation.
My consent is subject to the conditions that the Board shall not acquire additional vehicles for the purpose of exercising this additional power; and that the routes over which it is exercised must be approved by the Joint Parcels Organisation which the Board and the Transport Holding Company have established to promote inter working in the field of parcels and sundries traffic, on the basis of criteria drawn up by the Joint Parcels 194W Organisation, and taking full account of the vehicle resources of T.H.C. companies. These road operations by the Railways Board will still, of course, be subject to the normal carriers' licensing requirements.