'Abolish Licensing' Shock for Labour Government?.
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
FROM A SPF.C1AL CORRESPONDENT E report of the Geddes Committee, set up just under two years ago by Mr. I Ernest Marples to inquire into the system of road haulage licensing. has gone to the Stationery Office for printing and is to be published before the end of ihe month.
Its main recommendation is expected to be that all licensing of road haulage vehicles should be abolished. The decision of the committee is said to have come as a surprise--and an awkward one—for Mr. Tom Fraser, the Minister of Transport, who has been studying the report since it reached him on April 28.
When the report is published, Mr. Fraser will make a statement on the Government's attitude. But even if they agreed with the proposals there is no chance at all of introducing legislation this session and little more of doing anything in the coming session.
The most likely Government line is expected to be that the Geddes report must take its place in the body of expert studies now being made with a view to evolving it coherent plan for transport as a whole. This would mean, in effect, a shelving of the report for the time being (see page 40).
Abolition of licensing would be in complete opposition to Labour Party views insofar as they have been spelt out. The tendency is for a tightening •up of licences and a greater share of traffic for the State-owned sector of the industry and for the railways rather than for greater freedom for newcomers to compete in this field.
Within the industry itself there might also well be serious doubts about the wisdom of such a proposal, .As has been recorded in these pages from time to time, virtually all published evidence to the committee by transport bodies land notably the RITA) assumed the desirability of continuing a conditional licensing system.