§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Minister of Transport (1) what consultations he has had with European Ministers of Transport about the formation of a European pallet pool; and whether he will make a statement;
(2) what consultations he has had with road haulage operators about the formation of a national pallet pool; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarshCopies of a summary of the consultants' report on the feasibility of a pallet pool for the United Kingdom, which we have just published, have been sent to the Road Haulage Association, the Freight Transport Association and other interested organisations. The foreword to the summary invites comment on the proposals in the report, which, on the basis of a conclusion that a pool is both feasible and desirable, recommend a further, detailed, pool implementation planning study. We shall be inviting the R.H.A. and the F.T.A. in particular to discuss the proposals with us when they have had time to consider the report. We are well aware of the existence of the pool run by the railways on the Continent of Europe, and of the technical problems arising from differing pallet specifications, but it would be premature for me to have consultations with the other European Ministers of Transport before the study of the subject in the United Kingdom is further advanced.