TUC calls for massive public ownership
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AND A NATIONAL TRANSPORT PLANNING AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR CO-ORDINATION
ALL professional road haulage operations for fleets of more than five vehicles of over 2 tons unladen weight should be brought into public ownership under an expanded Road Services Division of the National Freight 'Corporation, says the Trades Union Congress in a major statement on transport organization published this week.
The TUC's booklet brings. together three statements — on the integration of transport, on British Rail finance and on urban transport. Its conclusions must prompt considerable controversy in all sectors of transport, and responsible government departments, for the Department of Environment and the Department of Trade would each be called upon to surrender present powers. (The DoE, however, would be the sponsoring Ministry in the massive shake-up.) The TUC calls for the setting up of a National Transport Planning Authority responsible mainly for investment planning and co-ordination. The NTPA would have six interlinked planning divisions as follows: Passenger (distance and rural transport); Freight (co-ordination of freight transport); Ports and Airports (port and airport planning); Urban Transport (liaison with local authorities); Roads (administration of roads programme); Research and Development (an expanded Transport and Road Research Laboratory), Traffic Flows, and Safety. The NTPA would coordinate transport planning by virtue of control over investment and, in the freight field, "through its power to allocate freight traffic within its jurisdiction to particular modes of transport, giving sufficient weight to social and environmental factors in the process." This amounts to quantity licensing.
The existing nationalized industries (including a new National Ports Authority) should continue to be the operating authorities under the strategic guidance of the NTPA. The relationship between the Authority, the National Freight Corporation and the British Railways Board has yet to be clearly defined, says the TUC.
TRRL expansion
The NTPA would take over from the DoE responsibility for the administration of the roads programme. It would also liaise closely with Passenger Transport Executives and metropolitan and county authorities about urban transport matters, giving special attention to rural transport problems. The NTPA would also expand the functions of the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, linking these with research and development in the operating authorities.
The own-account sector would also be affected by the TUC's proposals. "To make transport integration policies effective it is essential that longer freight hauls other than those on ownaccount should be undertaken by the expanded public sector road haulage group. This is the logic underlying the 2-ton limitation on unladen weight for private hauliers with more than five vehicles. Other restrictions on remaining private sector operators will, however, be necessary."
Says the TUC: —Ownaccount' operators should not be allowed to carry for hire and reward; and small private operators, who may still operate heavier vehicles, might need to be restricted in the distance over which they can carry in order to ensure the success of the public sector group."
The NTPA would be required to conduct a complete reappraisal of the work performed by "ownaccount" vehicles, and the system of retail distribution, with a view to the pro motion of rationalization and in conjunction with the new metropolitan and county authorities.
The TUC urges the designation of "heavy carrier" routes, especially in urban areas, to which vehicles over 6 tons unladen weight should be strictly confined. The report envisages an active role for the NTPA in developing route facilities for road haulage (marshalling areas, transport cafes and hotels, parking bases, etc) which at present are left entirely to private enterprise franchises.
Maintenance
Another controversial element of the TUC's report recommends the setting up of a public sector manufacturing, maintenance and servicing organization under the ultimate authority of the NTPA. This could combine support for the publiclyowned bus and road haulage services with high-quality garage repairs and service for private cars.
Worker representatives should sit on the boards of the operating authorities, says the TUC, and there should be much greater joint control over working practices at all levels of operation. Half of the board of the NTPA would consist of worker representatives selected through trade union machinery, some members representing the transport trade unions.
Dearer parcels?
PARCELS CARRIERS are expected to increase their rates by 121/2 per cent very soon.
This will mean that parcel rates will have increased by 221/2 per cent in less than 12 months.