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Government Inquiry Into Rural Services

15th May 1959, Page 45
15th May 1959
Page 45
Page 45, 15th May 1959 — Government Inquiry Into Rural Services
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THERE is to be an inquiry into rural transport and uneconomic routes, said the Minister of Transport last week.

" In the light of concessions the Government have recently made to the bus industry, I consider this is a useful moment to review trends in rural bus services. I propose, therefore, to set up a small committee for this purpose and I hope to announce its composition and terms of reference in the near future."

Although Mr. Watkinson mentioned the Budget Concession on licences, it was generally felt on the .Government backbenches that this did not go far enough to be of any concrete help. The concession -worked out at ahalfpenny a mile---which contrasted with the losses of up to 9d. a mile which some rural operators were suffering.. •

"Ehe picture had also been clouded by the demands for a out in general fuel duty and, for this reason, the Budget had to come before any detailed inquiry could be opened. Now that there is to be no reduction in the duty, the Minister is offering this inquiry, which will give the rural operators the chance to state their ease in detail and officially.

A big point for submission to the inquiry will be the possibility of concentrating rural transport systems so as to give the operator on these routes the opportunity of carrying mails, schoolchildren, parcels and the like, all of which would help to offset heavy running costs.

Another point will be the. idea suggested by Mr. Rupert Speir (Cons., Hesharn) that an operator on • a route which does not pay, should, through submission of audited accounts showing a loss, be able to reclaim from the Traffic Commissioners the amount of fuel duty which he has paid.

Mr. Speir, this week, tabled a new clause to the Finance Bill to embody the principle and country M.P.s are waiting anxiously for the Government's reaction.

RIBBLE OPPOSE BAN ON BUS SMOKING THE ban on smoking in the lower I saloons of buses of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd. (The Commercial Motor, April 24) is being opposed by the company.

The general manager of Ribble, Mr. H. Bottomley, said that a large number of passengers made journeys in Ribble double-deckers of up to three hours' duration. He was convinced that it would be wrong to deprive travellers of the right to smoke.

OBITUARY

WE regret to announce the death of SIR LEONARD BROWETT. Sir Leonard. who was 74, held a number of important posts in commerce and Government, including secretary to the Ministry of Transport from 1937-41. He will be remembered as the chairman of a committee which pressed for the abolition of the 20-m.p.h. speed limit seven years ago.


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