M.P.s Would Endorse Reduction in Fuel Tax : Minister's Test Promise
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BY OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT JHE Budget is almost upon us, and if the Chancellor were to cut fuel tax, he would have the approval of every M.P. in the House of Commons—not to mention the transport industry. All appreciate that it would be a big factor in bringing down the cost of living and getting passenger transport out of the red.
Mr. Harold Wilson asked what the estimated loss to the Exchequer would be if the duty on diesel oil were remitted for: (a) all road transport; and (la) for road passenger transport only.
The answer was that the Budget estimate included £744-m. in respect of the duty on diesel oil used in all road transport, of which £26+m. related to diesel oil used in passenger transport only.
When there were complaints about the closing of Pink Zone car parks and the one at Horse Guards Parade in particular, Mr. Marples was able to strike a telling blow. In the off-street car park at one of the biggest garages there are, at the peak hour on any day, 300 vacancies, he said, and yet the police were towing vehicles from the streets because there they could be parked free of charge.
New Bill Drafted
The Road Traffic Bill is now in draft and will be published before Easter.
It will apply traffic wardens and the ticket system to the whole of the country. It will give the Minister of Transport wide powers over traffic in the London Metropolitan region where, at present, 28 local authorities decide traffic measures Mr. Marples has made it quite clear he intends to get on with vehicle tests in spite of all the lawyers in the country," as he told Parliamentary journalists at a lunch on Monday.
He answered a question about the delay last week when he said the braking test would have to include a practical test of performance. The performance standards were embodied in a Manual of Guidance which was to be issued to garages and local authorities who were to administer the scheme. He was advised that there were legal objections to proceeding on this basis and any performance required must be embodied in statutory regulations. The drafting of the regulations was proceeding urgently.
Another remark by Mr. Marples showed the vigilance with which loading and unloading will have to be watched.
"Indiscriminate loading and unloading at inconvenient times for the traffic flow is responsible for a great deal of congestion," said Mr. Marples.
With the wide powers he is taking over in the London area, we might expect stringent measures before long.
Severn Bridge.—Negotiations for the acquisition of the land are still in progress. gural transport.—There is to be a debate on this on Friday, April 8, raised by Mr. Scott-Hopkins (Cons., N. Cornwall).