Transport Bill Bogging Down in Committee
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NA P.s will go back to Parliament later this month to find the Government in ILLa tough mood, with several major non-transport Bills to force through. In standing committee (which is the House in miniature, a few members from each side reflecting in composition the majority downstairs) the Transport Bill is grinding slowly along, writes our Political Correspondent.
This epic measure, 91 clauses and 11 schedules long and totalling 142 pages, is still in the throes of discussion on Clause 1--after five meetings and onequarter of the working year gone!
Clearly Mr. Marples must have had more than festivities on his mitid this Christmas. At that rate the Bill will never become law this session; but it most if the proposed vesting date— January 1, 1963—is to be kept, and if Dr. Beeching's five-year task is to be fulfilled. Dr. Beeching's £24,000-a-year salary is, one is happy to note, permanently " frozen " during this term. But unless he gets the necessary powers under the Bill it will be wasted.
It is, therefore, certain that if matters continue to go slowly, Mr. Marples and Mr. kin Macleod (Leader of the House) will confer during February and drag the " guillotine " from the floor of the House upstairs to Standing Committee E.
This is not a pleasant operation, and the Government would much prefer speedy though orderly consideration of the amendments, some very important, which have been laid. They amount to a formidable list, but not unreasonably so, and with co-operation could be handled.
However, the Transport Bill is a highly political document. It needs no whipping-up of emotion like—one suspects—has happened over other Bills which are in trouble.
Mr. Marples has spent much time and effort over it. Much of his reputation is sunk into it. With a formidable Tory majority in the Commons, the Government should not find it too hard to press on towards that vesting day deadline in 1963.