TRANSPORT BILL
Page 49
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which compensation can be claimed for loss where existing businesses are prohibited or restricted under this power. The board will have power to enter into working agreements with any local authority or person providing road services in areas adjacent to the London Traffic Area,
The Arrangement of Fares.
In conformity with his frequently expressed intention the Minister has inserted special provisions to ensure that the board will be kept in contact with the views of local authorities in its area and those authorities are given important rights of representation. The fares charged by the board on vehicles owned by any part of its undertaking will, be subject to revision by the Railway Rates Tribunal, on the application of local authorities in the London Traffic Area. For this purpose additional representatives experienced in London local government and finance respectively will be added to the Tribunal.
Machinery is provided for ensuring close contact between the board and the local authorities in the area through the medium of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee set up under the London Traffic Act, 1924, which is amended and made permanent. The representation of the local authorities on the Committee will be increased as follows Existing Proposed RepresenRepresen in the area will be able to make representations as to any withdrawal or reduction of the hoard's services or facilities in its area, or as to the need for new and improved facilities. Such representations will be referred to the Committee for investigation. mad, in the light of its report, the Minister of Transport will be able to make Orders relating to the matter in question.
The board will he given the necessary powers of borrowing and issuing stock of various classes in the exercise of such powers. It will be the primary duty of the board to manage its business in such a way as to ensure that it shall be able to meet all its liabilities, including the interest on its stocks and, as a further means for safeguarding its credit, it will be required to accumulate a substantial. reserve fund. The clauses dealing with these matters are complicated and technical.
Officers and servants of the undertakings to be transferred to the board will be taken over by the board on terms which are not to be less favourable than those which they enjoyed prior to the transfer. Provision is made for compensation in the case of officers or servants whose offices or posts are abolished or who suffer within five years of the appointed day any direct pecuniary loss as a result of the Act. •
Amendment of Existing Acts.
The London Traffic Act is due to expire at the end at this year and provision is made in the Bill for putting this Act on a Permanent basis, subject to various amendments.
Some amendment in detail will also be necessary in the provisions of the Road Traffic Act, so far as it applies to the London area, in view of the establishment of the new board.
The Bill provides for the transfer to the Traffic Commissioner of the London Traffic Area of the powers of the police authorities of licensing public-service vehicles, thus bringing the position in London into harmony with that already obtaining in the rest of the 'country.