Minister to Examine L.T.B. Problems
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From our Industrial Correspondent
THEMinister of Transport promised a deputation of London's busmen who called to see him last week that he would take an urgent look at London's growing bus crisis.
The deputation, led by Mr. Sam Henderson, told him of their great alarm at the continual cuts in services which had led to a 24 per cent reduction in mileage during the past 10 years.
Mr. Henderson told Mr. Fraser that London's bus crisis had deepened and further reduction in schedules envisaged for next year would lead to more and more bus travellers deserting public transport. He also stressed the acute staff shortage which it was estimated would reach about 2,400 crews next year —the greatest shortage ever in the history of London Transport.
After the meeting Mr. Henderson said they had also asked the Minister to try to find some way of relieving the London Transport Board from the statutory obligation to pay its way so that services could be maintained to meet the needs of the public. He said the Minister had replied that the Government was regarding the problem as urgent.
At the end of the hour-long meeting a joint statement said the Minister accepted that there was a need for there to be bus services in London adequate to meet the needs of the public.
Urgent action either by the Minister• or by London Transport will be necessary if there is not to be another staff crisis early in the New Year. Moves are already afOot to call another ban on overtime and rest-day working from February 3 unless the plans for further cuts in schedules are revised.