Parliamentary Briefs
Page 25
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Disposal Loss £12im.
THE capital loss on disposal, with
other compensation payable to the British Transport Commission, has been reassessed at £124m. Mr. Harold Watkinson, Minister of Transport, made this announcement last week.
Mr. Ernest Davies asked him whether the new estimate meant that plans to sell the parcels, meat and other remaining vehicles had been abandoned, but Mr. Watkinson did not reply.
He said that at December 3 last, British Road Services had 16,731 vehicles.
Mr. Watkinson could not make a statement on the termination of the appointments of members of the Road Haulage Disposal Board. He said they had still certain important duties to fulfil.
LONDON BUSMEN SUPPORTF,D
ADVERSE comments by the Marylebone magistrate about j.ondon bus drivers were regretted in the House of Commons last week by Mr. D. Jones (Lab.. Hartlepools). He wished a motion appreciating the high standard of safety and courtesy of London bus crews to be discussed, but the Lord Privy Seal could not promise an early time for it.
MR. MOLSON'S MIND MADE UP
NO encouragement is to be given to operators of small vans to fit side windows to improve visibility. Mr. Hugh Molson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, last week resisted two attempts to enforce the installation of side windows in vans. He said that the fitting of mirrors was a great deal inore conducive to safety than side windows.,
Miss Burton said that in 20 months there had been seven accidents in Coventry which could be attributed directly to the lack of side windows. Coventry water undertaking wished to fit them, but if it did so, the purchase tax on each vehicle would be increased by £100.
Miss Burton asked the Minister to look at the evidence from Coventry, to which Mr. Matson replied: "1 am alway4 Willing to look at any evidence i.n order to confirm the opinion to which I have already come."
ANONYMOUS LETTER COSTS In
A N anonymous letter forwarded to
the Minister of Transport caused a large brewery company to be fined 165, with 115 15s. costs, for offences relating to drivers' hours and records. Fifty-four summonses against the operator were issued by the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, the Minister of Transport revealed last week. • MANY. THINKING WHAT TO DO
IN the House of Commons last week, I Mr. Harold Watkinson, Minister of Transport, admitted that abnormal indivisible loads were already subject to a " considerable degree of control." When he had examined the representations of organizations affected by his new proposals, he would consider what more should he done.
RURAL TRANSPORT TALK
MOTICE was given in the House of 1 N Commons last week by Mr. W. M. F. Vane (Con., Westmoreland) that he will call attention to problems of rural transport when the Committee of Supply discusses the Civil Estimates.